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Accomplish Your Dream to Acquire Overseas Education—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—21st-Century Philosopher & The Father of “Soft Leadership”
“It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” —Mae Jemison
Currently, Indian students are very keen to go to America to pursue higher education such as MS or MBA. The craze is high because America is a land of opportunities, especially for Indians. Indians are highly respected in America and other developed countries including the UK, Canada, Australia, and Germany for their hard work and adaptability. Indian CEOs such as Sathya Nadella of Microsoft, Sundar Pichai of Google, and Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo have become an inspiration for many Indians in India. The quality of education in America is good and is creative, fun, and employment-oriented. However, many students don't have the financial capacity to pursue higher education in America. This article addresses overseas education and educational loans, and the dos and don'ts involved in them.
Overseas education is very expensive for Indians. Many Indians dream of acquiring it but find several financial constraints to accomplish their dreams. The cost of overseas education includes university fees and living expenses. If they understand the right method of choosing their universities and banks, half of the battle is won.
Advantages of Overseas Education
Overseas education helps acquire updated knowledge. It helps interact with diversified students globally. It adds value to your knowledge base. When students from different cultures come to the classroom they think differently and ask different questions. It helps others think from multiple perspectives thus widening their mental horizons. Above all, it is conducive to research paving the way for earning a Ph.D.
Overseas education helps network with people thus enhancing career opportunities. In the present world, connections make a crucial role. When the connections are global, then the growth will be at the global level. If a raindrop falls into an ocean, it loses its significance. If the same raindrop falls into a shell, it becomes a pearl. That is the power of networking which is possible in overseas education where students’ interaction and exposure convert them into gems!
A Blueprint to Your Overseas Education
Educational loans are a boon for poor meritorious students. Several consultants arrange loans for your overseas education. Research to find out genuine overseas consultants. If you don't have any idea, network with your friends from your educational institution and get input from your seniors who have already gone abroad for education. Find out the genuine universities and apply. Assess your financial capacity. Check the income tax returns of your parents. Get the banking transaction statement from your banker. Apply for a loan based the on fees the college is asking. Find out the mode of payment and the installments to pay your fees.
Approach both private and public sector banks for a loan. They will guide you on how much they can fund and the margin money you must have. When you go to private banks, find out the rate of interest and hidden costs involved in it. Usually, the marketing executives from private banks don’t reveal everything to you. Hence, you must clarify your requirements to avoid hassles later. Here are some dos and don’ts to accomplish your dream to acquire overseas education.
Assume that you don’t get any part-time job during your study. If you get it, it is a bonus.
Read the brochure carefully before applying for an educational loan to avoid springing last-minute surprises by your ban. Hence, be sure to read the fine print and get clarity on the rate of interest.
Compare the rate of interest from different banks. Find out the hidden costs involved. Some banks present a rosy picture by promising the moon and finally you end up finally paying more interest. Hence, be careful with banks. Have your queries clarified by the bank representative. If required, talk to his/her immediate manager to find out the facts. It helps you avoid burning your fingers.
Ensure that you hit on the right bank with the right educational loan scheme to suit your needs.
Be careful with fluctuations in currency.
During the visa interview, express your sincere intentions to pursue quality education rather than to settle down there. You must convince them that you have the financial capacity to pay the fees and meet the living expenses during your stay for the course.
Take a loan with protections. Don't look only for the rate of interest but look for flexible repayment terms as well.
You must look for employability prospects for your course. You should pay EMI on time to avoid high penal interest.
Research shows that there has been a sharp rise in the number of loan defaults. Hence, avoid the myth of viewing educational loans as financial assistance which is not to be repaid. Work hard to complete your examinations on time to acquire your qualification. Don't let down your parents, banks, and nation.
Accomplish Your Dream to Acquire Overseas Education
You can easily achieve your dream of studying abroad even if you have limited funds. Govt of India encourages loans on education and housing provided you meet the requirements. Hence, you must plan; do research; get the details; shortlist the best university as per your financial capacity; ensure funding from your bank at a reasonable rate of interest; make room for contingencies; prepare yourself mentally; network with others; learn and work smart to acquire overseas education.
Don't assume that you get a part-time job immediately. Currently, the rules in the USA are getting stricter, and you must find out how many hours you can work part-time. The students who illegally work are sent back to their home countries. Hence, don’t involve in illegal activities that ruin your prospects to complete your course. Therefore, keep all risks in view and make your decisions wisely.
Most Indian parents want to give their best for their children. But due to financial constraints, they may not be in a position to accomplish their dream to pursue an overseas education. Hence, if your parents cannot afford it, don't pressurize them. Empathize with them. Look for alternative means to accomplish your dream to acquire overseas education.
Good luck!
Share if you care!
“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html
Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html
Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao
Life is great!
Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM
Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao
Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com
X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao
Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414
See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132
Thanks for reading!
Kindly share your thoughts and comments below. I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.
Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
This nonprofit blog will share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. Without permission, this material may not be sold, published, or used to provide business services to a third party.
Emphasize Achievements, not Affiliations—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—21st-Century Philosopher & The Father of “Soft Leadership”
“It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.” - Henry Ford
I have seen a senior faculty member who often toots her own horns about her educational background as she acquired qualifications from prestigious educational institutions. She ridicules another faculty member who acquired qualifications from low-profile educational institutions. I started to think about this and explored writing an article weighing both pros and cons. Are affiliations more important than achievements? Are the people qualified from prestigious educational institutions more competent than the ones from ordinary educational institutions? Are the candidates qualified from ordinary educational institutions less knowledgeable than the ones from extraordinary educational institutions?
It is indeed tough to conclude that the people qualified from prestigious educational institutions are smarter than the ones from low-profile educational institutions. It appears like an MBA degree holder from a prestigious institution can excel as a better CEO than one from a low-profile institution.
When we look at Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison, they are college dropouts but proved themselves to be successful CEOs. When you look at the 16th President of America, Abraham Lincoln, he was a self-educated man who proved far better than the 43rd President of America, George W. Bush who earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. Hence, it is unfair to jump to the conclusion that people from prestigious institutions are always better material than the ones from ordinary institutions. However, people from prestigious institutions have several advantages. They are equipped with employability skills, and companies prefer to hire them based on their educational and institutional affiliation. They enjoy amazing ambiance; have better visibility; and grow their career ladder quickly due to the connections created in the classroom. The knowledge they share is qualitative and the amount of effort they put in is smarter thus paying rich dividends. On the other hand, people from ordinary institutions put in a lot of hard work as they have to slog hard for acquiring knowledge and connecting with the right people. They go by stairs as they are not equipped to go by elevator, unlike the people from extraordinary institutions. Hence, it all depends on the individuals, not institutions; and achievements, not affiliations.
People from prestigious institutions often remain in their comfort zones while the people from ordinary institutions remain in their effective zones to prove themselves. There are instances where people qualified from prestigious institutions come up with high egos and become too big for their shoes and finally fall flat on the ground. In contrast, the people who come from grass root level understand the value of life and empathize with others. They take baby steps and grow steadily and consistently and rarely do they look back as their failure rate is lower.
Ordinary versus Extraordinary Educational Institutions
Anyone can join ordinary educational institutions by fulfilling the basic requirements and following guidelines despite not being good academically and sound financial. However, only the cream joins extraordinary educational institutions. Self-starters join ordinary institutions and kick-starters join extraordinary institutions. The admissions into ordinary institutions are flexible while the admissions into extraordinary institutions are strict. There is often spoon-feeding in ordinary institutions while there is self-feeding in extraordinary institutions. The teaching pedagogy in ordinary institutions is traditional and examination-oriented while the teaching pedagogy in extraordinary institutions is updated and innovative. The extraordinary institutions adopt team-based, case-study-driven, and out-of-the-box approaches leading to many solutions to problems. The students are reshuffled physically in the classroom and it creates new vibes and ideas. They understand the psychology of other students and think critically, analytically, and logically; acquire and apply knowledge effectively apart from building great connections. In addition, they are connected with other bright students virtually thus sharing and broadening their knowledge greatly. Above all, the faculty in ordinary institutions serve as resource persons while the faculty in extraordinary institutions serve as moderators thus adding value to the existing cream.
Bad with Books but Good with Hands
Lao Tzu quoted, "Those who know, don't predict. Those who predict, don't know." Some people are bad with books but good with hands became job providers and leaders. At the same time, some people who are good with books but bad with their hands became job seekers and remained followers. Hence, it is tough to conclude that the people who are qualified from prestigious institutions achieve amazingly. But it can be firmly summed up that their success rate will be higher.
God gifted unique talents to everyone. However, all are not blessed with the resources to pursue their education in prestigious institutions. Hence, we cannot underestimate the people acquiring qualifications from ordinary educational institutions. What counts at the end of the day is how you acquire and apply your knowledge; how you deliver your goods; and above all, the difference you make in the lives of others. To conclude, it is the achievements count, not affiliations; it is the individuals count, not institutions.
"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." - Vincent T. Lombardi
Share if you care!
“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html
Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html
Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao
Life is great!
Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM
Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao
Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com
X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao
Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414
See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132
Thanks for reading!
Kindly share your thoughts and comments below. I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.
Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
This nonprofit blog will share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. Without permission, this material may not be sold, published, or used to provide business services to a third party.
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Peter Drucker and Management By Objectives (MBO)—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—21st-Century Philosopher & The Father of “Soft Leadership”
Every company has its vision and mission. It will be effective only when the employees are actively involved in decision-making. The leaders and entrepreneurs set their vision and mission and to accomplish the same, it is essential to take the support of managers and non-managers. In this process, the concept of MBO plays a crucial role in aligning employees with organizational goals and objectives and ultimately accomplishing them.
What is MBO?
MBO is a management strategy. The concept was coined by Peter F. Drucker in his book titled 'The Practice of Management' in 1954. It integrates individual goals with organizational goals. It is here where the employees set their goals achieve their goals and take feedback for themselves. Precisely MBO is all about aligning the goals of employees with the goals of the organization.
MBO program helps both the managers and non-managers to have clarity of their roles and responsibilities as they are briskly involved in setting their goals and objectives. There is a vast difference between hearing the goals from others and setting the goals by themselves. Setting goals has better possibilities of achieving as the people know their strengths and weaknesses and set their goals based on their capabilities and competencies. When goals are imposed by others it makes things a little more complicated. Whereas when people themselves set goals it makes them more responsible and accountable as well.
SMART MBO
The employees must set their objectives in such a way that they must be SMART. SMART is the acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and trackable. They should specify their goals to avoid ambiguity. For instance, by what percentage or by what means they want to achieve must be specified clearly. They must be able to measure the duration by which they will be able to accomplish their objectives. The objectives must not be set in such a way that the employees must have the competency and capability to achieve them. Setting objectives realistically but not based on fantasy motivates employees to work harder and smarter. Finally, the objectives must be trackable wherein the employees must be able to track the status of their performance. For instance, if they fail to reach the objectives in time, they must be able to analyze obstacles and overcome them same. It is a kind of feedback about their execution.
Merits of MBO
MBO ensures clarity in the minds of the employees about their organizational goals and objectives and tunes themselves accordingly. It provides a sense of satisfaction and confidence amongst the employees as they are involved in decision-making. It motivates and challenges them to take up higher roles and responsibilities.
It helps ensure that both employees and management are well-tuned and aligned with organizational goals and objectives. It helps in measuring the performance of employees as per the benchmarked standards. It provides better communication and promotes better coordination between superiors and subordinates. Let us look at the same succinctly.
Clarity in goals
Effective communication
Better coordination
Proper facilitation
More confidence among the people
Clear demarcation of roles and responsibilities
Higher morale among the people
Helps in delegating authority in large organizations.
However, the concept has been criticized by W. Edwards Deming who doubted the viability and application of objectives. We shall now look at the other side of MBO.
Demerits of MBO
It is a lengthy process
It may affect the main organizational goals
At times people may not be competent in setting their goals
It may lead to organizational politics as people impose certain goals on their peers that they may not be able to accomplish
Peter Drucker’s concept of MBO is here to stay in this 21st century. The globe is changing due to rapid growth in technology. Employees are clamoring for freedom and active participation in management. Advocating MBO helps the employees to have a sense of satisfaction and motivation as it enables them in the decision-making and management process actively.
Share if you care!
“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html
Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html
Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao
Life is great!
Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM
Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao
Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com
X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao
Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414
See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132
Thanks for reading!
Kindly share your thoughts and comments below. I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.
Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
This nonprofit blog will share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. Without permission, this material may not be sold, published, or used to provide business services to a third party.
Advice To Young Researchers: Avoid Instant Gratification!—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—21st-Century Philosopher & The Father of “Soft Leadership”
“My best teacher is not a person. My best teachers is my books, my experience, my observations, my failures, and my students. They are all my best teachers. In a nutshell, my best teachers are not persons but books, experience, observation, environment, and students who provoked my thinking and encouraged me to research and improve my teaching." ―Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D., The Father of Soft Leadership
Young researchers are ambitious, intelligent, smart, and tech-savvy. They appreciate inspirational insights from experienced researchers to proceed in the right direction. In this regard, we will discuss ideas, insights, and advice for them to become successful researchers and leave their marks for future generations.
A Blueprint for Young Researchers
“The reward of the young scientist is the emotional thrill of being the first person in the history of the world to see something or to understand something. Nothing can compare with that experience.” —Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin
Everything starts with passion. Therefore, be passionate about your area of research. Have dreams, pursue them, and work very hard to accomplish them. Have a vision and mission. Contribute in the right direction consistently. Surround yourself with geniuses and talk to them regularly to understand the latest developments in research. Be curious and ask appropriate questions. Enter unexplored areas where there is the least competition. Identify the gaps and explore them persistently. Experiment to fill those gaps. Learn by doing. Don't worry about failures. Treat failures as experiments. Publish papers in quality journals. Work hard, smart, and wise for 20 to 25 years. Enjoy the journey to reach your destination. Avoid instant gratification. Inventions mostly happen by choice, not by chance. Research ideas come from the strangest sources and places while walking, driving, reading, writing, teaching, cooking, washroom, and music. Believe in pluck, not in luck as luck plays a minor part in the research. Create solutions, add value to the world, and win the Nobel Prize.
Malcolm D. Shuster in his research paper Advice to Young Researchers1 offers advice to young researchers as follows: Work hard and do good work! Be focused. Put not thy trust in drawings! Put not thy trust in others! Be real! Don't always be practical! A wise man can learn from anyone. It is better to be right than "practical." Pay attention to small details! Develop intuition! Not all work is valuable. Be a dilettante! Be unreasonable sometimes! Knowledge is infinite; humans are finite. The most important research is often about finding questions, not about finding answers. Check your work! Have courage! Carpe diem! Keep it simple. Be useful. Research ideas sometimes come from the strangest places. A simulation is a valuable tool. Thinking is better than computing. Simulation is not proof. Not all simulations are equal. Write as you go! Don't rush to publication! Use clear and systematic notation! Do not build permanent monuments to bad work! Don't defend your mistakes! The world will remember only your archival publications. Good ideas often come quickly; good publications always require a lot of work. Not quantity but quality! Be pedagogical in your papers! Good cooks leave good recipes. Always give credit where credit is due! Pride goeth before a fall. Non illigitimi carborundum est! Good teaching in engineering is research. The dark side of research is that we all screw up, life is not fair, and don't let the blues get you down! Research isn't everything. When in doubt, do the right thing. Take all advice with caution. Above all, be happy with your work!
Conclusion
"Science means constantly walking a tightrope between blind faith and curiosity; between expertise and creativity; between bias and openness; between experience and epiphany; between ambition and passion; and between arrogance and conviction – in short, between an old today and a new tomorrow." —Henrich Rohrer
Most scientists are not geniuses. Their hidden potential was spotted by their teachers and mentors in the early stages. They pursued their passionate areas with persistence and patience. Therefore, never give up. Enjoy the process and love what you are doing. Don’t check for outcomes frequently because outcomes take their own time. Have fun and enjoy the journey to succeed as a researcher and scientist.
“Research is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.” —Albert Szent-Györgyi
Share if you care!
“Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html
Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html
Note: I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand has been numb and paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for empathizing with me. With gratitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFJrSRLHPUk&ab_channel=ProfessorM.S.Rao
Life is great!
Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM
Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao
Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com
X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao
Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414
See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132
Thanks for reading!
Kindly share your thoughts and comments below. I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.
Copyright©2025 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
This nonprofit blog will share Professor M.S. Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog; redistribute them by email or post them on the web. The use of this material is free provided the copyright is acknowledged and a reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. Without permission, this material may not be sold, published, or used to provide business services to a third party.