The only easy day was yesterday: Rachit Jain, Founder and CEO, Youth4Work
The Proust Questionnaire is a questionnaire about one’s personality. It has its origins in a parlour game popularised by Marcel Proust, the French essayist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature
Rachit Jain is founder and CEO of a unique talent platform, Youth4Work. When Rachit observed that the portfolios of many young professionals in the company where he worked, didn’t match their innate strengths, he left his comfortable corporate job to chase his dream. He wanted to find a solution that could help in healthy and optimum utilisation of talent.
With over 10 years of work experience in technology and management, Rachit has been instrumental in building ‘Youth4work’ that empowers people to assess and identify their own talents and improve their skills. Later, he was able to develop a technology platform that helps compare, as well as improve an individual's personality and skill sets with thousands of others and match him or her to the requirements of a specific job. Here are his responses to our Proust questionnaire…
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is doing something for others that will bring a smile to the other person’s face. That moment you know you helped someone, that is true happiness.
What is your greatest fear?
Of dying without leaving a legacy behind and leaving a mark in the world.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I trust people a lot more than I should, at times. Like in the movie, Godfather, I am unable to work truly with ‘It’s not personal, it’s business.’
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Not taking responsibility! It’s ok to make mistakes and errors, but people nowadays shy away from taking responsibility for anything and give up too soon. You have to see the task that you undertook till the end.
Which living person do you most admire?
Sachin Tendulkar, for his focus and for knowing his place in the world. He is also so humble and down-to-earth.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Frankly, I have never had the money to spend extravagantly yet.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Being able to raise funds by painting a vision. I feel that thinkers and talkers are valued more than doers.
On what occasion do you lie?
When I have had four beers but I tell my wife that I have had two. Don’t tell her this!
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I am unable to exercise nowadays.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Taking ownership of his failures! And not giving up despite failing again and again.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
I like the fact that women can think of much more things and angles than men. That makes them superior than men in 80% of the cases.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife, Neha
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would like to conduct small talk with random people. Unfortunately, I get to the point too fast too soon with people.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Striving to grow better is the mark of a good person. I would like to become a better husband.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I prefer to let my actions speak for themselves.
Where would you most like to live?
New Delhi. I would love to have holiday homes in Goa and New Zealand too.
What is your most treasured possession?
My watches.
What is your favorite occupation?
Being a startup founder. It is a roller coaster ride.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Not giving up.
What do you most value in your friends?
Being able to talk your heart without fear of being judged.
Who are your favorite writers?
Isaac Asimov. I just love the Foundation series.
Who is your hero/heroine of fiction?
Ayn Rand in Fountainhead.
Who are your heroes in real life?
I think the ladies in the family and the home makers are the real heroes around us.
What is it that you most dislike?
Beer is getting expensive
What is your greatest regret?
Not having enough money to buy beer during my college days
What is your favorite journey?
Driving in New Zealand with my wife
What is your motto?
The only easy day was yesterday.
