Twenty-plus years ago, in the year 2000, how would you have answered these questions?

What is the goal of a boy from rural India?

• Joining an engineering college
• Entering the best engineering college

What would be his goal if he were studying in a highly reputed engineering college?

• Getting placed
• Getting placed in the best MNC with a great package

What would be the goal of an employee working in a top multinational corporation?

• Get a rating that ‘exceeds expectations.
• Going for an onsite project to the US

Finally, if you have achieved the ideal in each of the above three, how would you feel?

• On top of the world
• Be the happiest person in the world

This story began somewhere in 2001. It is the story of G D Dharaneetharan, a village lad studying in a premium engineering school who gets placed in an IT major and months later works onsite in Dallas, USA. His mind, however, is neither ‘on top of the world’ nor ‘happy.’ Something is missing in his life. In search of it, he makes decisions and backs them with resolute actions.

Fast forward to 2022. Now, Dharaneetharan’s mindset is ‘on top of the world,’ and he teaches others how to achieve it through tools and techniques.

No, he is not another lazy Gyan Guru. He is someone who has been there and done it. If you are curious to know his story, join me as I walk you through his entrepreneurship journey and what he learned.

When I was born, my grandma called me Chinna Bommai (A small doll). As I grew up, everyone in the house, the extended family, and the neighborhood called me so, so much so that I forgot my real name. I didn’t like the native twist to it, and so when I was in Class II, I anglicized it to China Doll! People now call me CD.

I live in Aruppukottai, a few blocks away from DD’s home. I shadow him, unknown to him. Surprisingly, whenever his pharmacist mother gets transferred in her job, my doctorfather also gets a transfer. It’s a strange coincidence indeed, but it has helped me keep track of him and his meteoric rise to fame.