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DREAM WITH YOUR EYES OPEN
In Dream With Your Eyes Open, first-generation entrepreneur and UTV-founder Ronnie Screwvala details his vast experiences and the myriad lessons learnt from more than two decades of building some successful (and some not-so-successful) businesses, bringing clarity to a quickly changing business landscape and making an impassioned case for the role of entrepreneurship in India's future.
If you’ve ever had an impactful, disruptive product or business idea, been curious about owning your own business, or have already taken the first steps on your entrepreneurial journey, this is the book for you.
If you’ve been running your own company for the last seven-odd years, and scale, brand and value-creation are some of the crossroads for you now, keep reading.
If you think your parents or family would freak out if you dared to suggest ditching your safe haven—your professional job—to pursue your dreams of owning your own business, relax. Better yet, share this book with them.
If you’re an experienced professional ready to take the plunge into starting your own business or committed to growing into an effective leader in the company you work for, read on. This book hopes to demystify failure, inspire success, raise ambitions and help you think big.
Dream With Your Eyes Open shares failures and triumphs, thoughts and anecdotes in a simple narrative that could help you gain better insights into entrepreneurship and give you a fighting chance when it comes to realizing your dreams in a David-versus-Goliath world. Only then will we succeed in harnessing the country’s enormous entrepreneurial potential with the most energetic and passionate people in the world, alive with fresh mindsets, optimism and hope.
This book is about ‘it can be done’, not ‘I did it’. It’s all possible. Just dream your own dream—and when you do, dream with your eyes open.
If you’ve ever had an impactful, disruptive product or business idea, been curious about owning your own business, or have already taken the first steps on your entrepreneurial journey, this is the book for you.
If you’ve been running your own company for the last seven-odd years, and scale, brand and value-creation are some of the crossroads for you now, keep reading.
If you think your parents or family would freak out if you dared to suggest ditching your safe haven—your professional job—to pursue your dreams of owning your own business, relax. Better yet, share this book with them.
If you’re an experienced professional ready to take the plunge into starting your own business or committed to growing into an effective leader in the company you work for, read on. This book hopes to demystify failure, inspire success, raise ambitions and help you think big.
Dream With Your Eyes Open shares failures and triumphs, thoughts and anecdotes in a simple narrative that could help you gain better insights into entrepreneurship and give you a fighting chance when it comes to realizing your dreams in a David-versus-Goliath world. Only then will we succeed in harnessing the country’s enormous entrepreneurial potential with the most energetic and passionate people in the world, alive with fresh mindsets, optimism and hope.
This book is about ‘it can be done’, not ‘I did it’. It’s all possible. Just dream your own dream—and when you do, dream with your eyes open.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2015
420 people are currently reading
2177 people want to read
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February 25, 2023
Ronnie Screwvala is an Indian entrepreneur and the creator of the UTV group. He has been included in many global lists like Time magazine's top 100 influential people in the world. He and his wife are running a non-profit organization called Swades Foundation, which has helped thousands of people in rural India.
This book tells us how he built up a business empire from scratch. Being a first-generation entrepreneur, he had to face many setbacks in the initial part of his life. He also tells us all the valuable lessons he learned from these experiences. He had a magnanimous approach towards his defeats which made him an omnipotent personality in the film industry.
What I learned from this book
1) What is the importance of creating your brand?
The author's initial journey in the Indian version of Tinseltown started in an idyllic manner. But he expeditiously became one of the most sought-after producers in the Indian film industry.
He was able to achieve this level of success by creating his brand, UTV. He tells us the importance of building up our own brand. He was intransigent regarding the quality of his movies despite all the hardships and setbacks. The result of his hard work can be clearly seen in his films, like Rang De Basanti.
"Your focus on creating a brand is a critical step on the journey to scale. This is not an easy task, and far more complex than the common view would have it—that brand-building requires little more than spending on marketing. But once you create a brand that stands for something, speaks of its own standards, has recall value with a large consumer base and brings credibility to your service or product, it can be a great inflection point for your company"
2) The difference between taking risks and gambling
We will certainly have to take some risks in our life to become successful. But these should be calculated risks and not illogical insane ones that are outright gambling. Sometimes we will get beginner's luck when we gamble, which are unfortunately transient. The success of a person depends on his ability to demarcate the narrow line between taking risks and gambling.
"Risk isn't about going headlong into situations where the outcome can't be predicted. That's just foolish behavior. Risk means pushing the envelope when others want to take the safe route. Risk means caring more about potential rewards than possible losses. To separate yourself from the crowd, think through the worst-case scenarios as possibilities. If a worst-case scenario does become a reality, be just as willing to move on to bigger and better things."
3) Exit strategy
Some of his business ideas are like that of an inveterate iconoclast fervently attacking popular business principles. His contingency plan of venture exit strategy will help many interested in business.
"The only thing my experiences taught me is that exits are about creating value and letting go when the need and opportunity arise. This might sound like a non-commitment, but a timely exit can be the best business decision that an entrepreneur makes in the same way that a poorly timed exit can be the worst."
My favourite three lines from this book
“The difference between predator and prey in a business ecosystem is determined by the strength of one’s next idea.”
“Dreaming with your eyes open means being alert to challenges but refusing to let them stop you”
“Culture is the lifeblood of successful endeavours. Everything you do and everywhere you go creates opportunities to communicate in impactful ways. Great communication becomes a part of a company's culture. The more deeply it's embedded, the larger the company grows. The larger the company grows, the deeper the culture."
What could have been better?
Summaries are good for understanding how much we grasped, especially in the case of academic books. But I think there was no need for a summary after every chapter in a memoir like this.
Rating
3/5 This book will help you to intrepidly start your own business by tackling all the impediments to become an embodiment of success.
April 8, 2015
Growing up in the Bombay of the 70’s, I remember Ronnie Screwvala from his days as a theatre personality in Bombay. I recall seeing the ads for The Wiz, a production of his theatre company, Lazer Productions, in the newspapers of that time. From playing Cassio in Othello to starting UTV, I knew nothing of his journey, until I started reading his new book, Dream With Your Eyes Open.
His book gives us both, a glimpse into his journey of entrepreneurship, and an insight into Ronnie Screwvala, the human being – an enterprising, charming and very down-to-earth South Bombay Parsi gentleman with a “can-do” attitude that never quits.
I laughed out loud when he described a cobra scene that just went on and on in the first flop movie he produced. I felt for him when he wrote about his failure in college and what he learned from it. I could totally empathise with his distaste at the intrusion of mobile phones in personal communications, this being one of my own pet peeves.
To quote from his book, “Few things are ruder and quite frankly more arrogant than chatting on or tapping away at a phone and ignoring someone who takes time out of his day to sit with you one-on-one or in a group… Attentive and courteous communication breeds a healthy corporate culture.”
He goes on to discuss how he insists on parking mobile phones outside during meetings. I think if more companies begin to adopt this practice, it will greatly improve the quality of our personal communications. It might be a good rule to enforce at the dinner table too.
A very down-to-earth outlook is evident in his observations like, “A lively office culture doesn’t always come from big spaces… The concept of the top-floor corner office is archaic and reeks of an isolated top management team.”
One of the things he emphasizes for an entrepreneur is the role of communicating your message well, and the importance of using the method of communication that comes most easily to you – whether oratorical or email.
In Dream With Your Eyes Open, Screwvala takes us on a tour of his motivations, challenges, victories, failures and missed opportunities – from starting out as a manufacturer of toothbrushes, to becoming a content provider for Zee TV, to his innings as an international movie producer.
Though not chronologically, he weaves in tales of his disruptive approach to the media industry, like producing the daily soap, Shanti, and going on to start Hungama TV with its hugely popular shows, Doraemon and (my personal favourite) Shin-Chan. Many entrepreneurs will enjoy reading the inside story of the takeover of Hungama TV and UTV by Disney followed by his exit from the media industry.
I was especially struck by his account of the exhaustive legwork he undertook to build his cable company, even going on door-to-door sales calls himself. It made me appreciate, even more, his determination to do whatever it takes to understand his customer and provide value to them. He explains why success has more to do with preparation than luck and offers invaluable tips on learning to grow and scale a business – a section I found especially useful to me.
Screwvala also has interesting views on that bane of all business meetings – presentations – and has a sharp word for critics, most of whom “have never created, or built anything” and “act as though they are experts in the room.” “Let criticism and public failure strengthen you, not diminish you,” he says. “In the end, you’re not answerable to anyone but yourself.”
Dream With Your Eyes Open is a book that every entrepreneur (or wannabe entrepreneur) in India should read, if they want to understand what it takes to build an empire. Many readers will find their most pertinent questions answered in the appendix, which is structured as a Q&A section.
On completing the book, my wish for Ronnie Screwvala is the very same one his mother expresses, “Why don’t you go back to theatre?” I guess I’m rather fond of remembering him on stage, because it’s where I first heard his name.
However, his second innings seem to lie in being owner of a kabaddi team, rather than on Mumbai’s stage. All I can say is that I’ll be watching his future ventures with keen interest.
His book gives us both, a glimpse into his journey of entrepreneurship, and an insight into Ronnie Screwvala, the human being – an enterprising, charming and very down-to-earth South Bombay Parsi gentleman with a “can-do” attitude that never quits.
I laughed out loud when he described a cobra scene that just went on and on in the first flop movie he produced. I felt for him when he wrote about his failure in college and what he learned from it. I could totally empathise with his distaste at the intrusion of mobile phones in personal communications, this being one of my own pet peeves.
To quote from his book, “Few things are ruder and quite frankly more arrogant than chatting on or tapping away at a phone and ignoring someone who takes time out of his day to sit with you one-on-one or in a group… Attentive and courteous communication breeds a healthy corporate culture.”
He goes on to discuss how he insists on parking mobile phones outside during meetings. I think if more companies begin to adopt this practice, it will greatly improve the quality of our personal communications. It might be a good rule to enforce at the dinner table too.
A very down-to-earth outlook is evident in his observations like, “A lively office culture doesn’t always come from big spaces… The concept of the top-floor corner office is archaic and reeks of an isolated top management team.”
One of the things he emphasizes for an entrepreneur is the role of communicating your message well, and the importance of using the method of communication that comes most easily to you – whether oratorical or email.
In Dream With Your Eyes Open, Screwvala takes us on a tour of his motivations, challenges, victories, failures and missed opportunities – from starting out as a manufacturer of toothbrushes, to becoming a content provider for Zee TV, to his innings as an international movie producer.
Though not chronologically, he weaves in tales of his disruptive approach to the media industry, like producing the daily soap, Shanti, and going on to start Hungama TV with its hugely popular shows, Doraemon and (my personal favourite) Shin-Chan. Many entrepreneurs will enjoy reading the inside story of the takeover of Hungama TV and UTV by Disney followed by his exit from the media industry.
I was especially struck by his account of the exhaustive legwork he undertook to build his cable company, even going on door-to-door sales calls himself. It made me appreciate, even more, his determination to do whatever it takes to understand his customer and provide value to them. He explains why success has more to do with preparation than luck and offers invaluable tips on learning to grow and scale a business – a section I found especially useful to me.
Screwvala also has interesting views on that bane of all business meetings – presentations – and has a sharp word for critics, most of whom “have never created, or built anything” and “act as though they are experts in the room.” “Let criticism and public failure strengthen you, not diminish you,” he says. “In the end, you’re not answerable to anyone but yourself.”
Dream With Your Eyes Open is a book that every entrepreneur (or wannabe entrepreneur) in India should read, if they want to understand what it takes to build an empire. Many readers will find their most pertinent questions answered in the appendix, which is structured as a Q&A section.
On completing the book, my wish for Ronnie Screwvala is the very same one his mother expresses, “Why don’t you go back to theatre?” I guess I’m rather fond of remembering him on stage, because it’s where I first heard his name.
However, his second innings seem to lie in being owner of a kabaddi team, rather than on Mumbai’s stage. All I can say is that I’ll be watching his future ventures with keen interest.
October 22, 2019
“I am too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener.”
Not long ago, a friend of mine and I were discussing why Entrepreneurs write autobiographies. From additional revenues to brand building to yet another venture - we covered quite a few possibilities. Ronnie Screwvala writes the book with a new view of 'teaching' and 'inspiring' aspiring entrepreneurs. Like that ever works!
Having gotten that out of the way, I think this is one of the more grounded books that deals as much with failures as with success. It paints a picture that entrepreneurship is either in your skin or it isn't at all. The early chapters describes how he managed to sell tickets to his balcony for people to watch celebrities in the next building. That business savvy is not a B-School curriculum.
For starters I did know, before reading this book, the accomplishments of UTV! I was able to relate to the milestones - including Rang De Basanti which was a breakout movie while I was in college. Also revealing was the TV channel business and the global tie ups. For someone who has built such an impressive portfolio ground up - you expect him to share his shelved projects as well.
Quite a few interesting and practical lessons. I especially agreed with him on handling venture exits or having to let go of your founding team to scale up. I also enjoyed his subtle humor. The book being very relevant in this bubble - it is also nice to see the author being candid on things he is not sure about than thrusting opinions.
My only grouse was the chapter summary he was providing like a curriculum book or for that matter the Q&A in the end. Also, since it was an audiobook read by Mr.Screwvala himself, the content felt very preachy.
A good book for wannabe entrepreneurs with zero management jargon.
Not long ago, a friend of mine and I were discussing why Entrepreneurs write autobiographies. From additional revenues to brand building to yet another venture - we covered quite a few possibilities. Ronnie Screwvala writes the book with a new view of 'teaching' and 'inspiring' aspiring entrepreneurs. Like that ever works!
Having gotten that out of the way, I think this is one of the more grounded books that deals as much with failures as with success. It paints a picture that entrepreneurship is either in your skin or it isn't at all. The early chapters describes how he managed to sell tickets to his balcony for people to watch celebrities in the next building. That business savvy is not a B-School curriculum.
For starters I did know, before reading this book, the accomplishments of UTV! I was able to relate to the milestones - including Rang De Basanti which was a breakout movie while I was in college. Also revealing was the TV channel business and the global tie ups. For someone who has built such an impressive portfolio ground up - you expect him to share his shelved projects as well.
Quite a few interesting and practical lessons. I especially agreed with him on handling venture exits or having to let go of your founding team to scale up. I also enjoyed his subtle humor. The book being very relevant in this bubble - it is also nice to see the author being candid on things he is not sure about than thrusting opinions.
My only grouse was the chapter summary he was providing like a curriculum book or for that matter the Q&A in the end. Also, since it was an audiobook read by Mr.Screwvala himself, the content felt very preachy.
A good book for wannabe entrepreneurs with zero management jargon.
September 1, 2017
"Charm for me is the ability to persuade with your tone, your willingness to be inclusive in your engagement with every one in the room or on the call, and your knack for being clear and articulate with your message". This sums up the essence of the book. What to say and how to say is the key to success, Coming from a successful entrepreneur, one would totally agree with what he says. The ease with which the author managed to "plan for failure" and "embrace(d) failure" and yet succeeded is a lesson for all.
Read
April 24, 2016Ronnie Screwvala has been a household name for parsis from Balaram street. Sharp, Suave, Savvy, athletic, married a parsi to boot ;) his story inspires, guides and continues to trail-blaze even after the ink dried on his contract with Disney.
But if you are looking for Lee Iacocca or Malcolm Gladwell kinda inspiration, this is not it. He labours through the book, swinging between polite recounts of his personal experiences, giving little away of his caustic wit (that he's famous for) and to preachy expressions of what most innovators in the indian ecosystem know.
The plus side is that the book contains some good tidbits of failure and guiding stars and heartfelt tips in lucid language which may appeal to the "middle tier" as he said.
The bits that every entrepreneur looks for is scaling up and exiting. Both of which, RS is the master of the game (or so it would seem). But the book fails to go into details on both counts, by simply saying, "hire the right talent", "look out for the right time". Yeah right.
But if you are looking for Lee Iacocca or Malcolm Gladwell kinda inspiration, this is not it. He labours through the book, swinging between polite recounts of his personal experiences, giving little away of his caustic wit (that he's famous for) and to preachy expressions of what most innovators in the indian ecosystem know.
The plus side is that the book contains some good tidbits of failure and guiding stars and heartfelt tips in lucid language which may appeal to the "middle tier" as he said.
The bits that every entrepreneur looks for is scaling up and exiting. Both of which, RS is the master of the game (or so it would seem). But the book fails to go into details on both counts, by simply saying, "hire the right talent", "look out for the right time". Yeah right.
August 8, 2018
A perfect “Management” book with precise agenda. Feels like attending two days workshop - great opening lines for each topic and accurate summary at the end.
Our guy came from “lower-middle-class-we weren’t wealthy” background from Grant Road of Mumbai (Bombay back then) and eventually moved to Breach Candy as permanent resident. On this journey, in his early twenties he went to UK for better study of front-of-television anchoring when his father was M.D., mind it Managing Director, of J. L. Morrison. That’s early 1980s. But like any Hollywood movie, our guy came from “lower-middle-class-we weren’t wealthy” background and had a trumpet on chest with lungs full of air to cry out of extremely successful journey.
Many of Indian Television’s first is his contribution that can’t be ignored and salute for that. But do we need a book for that?
Guys get a Starbucks’ coffee with corner table listening to your favourite music. That’s worth it but this book!!
Our guy came from “lower-middle-class-we weren’t wealthy” background from Grant Road of Mumbai (Bombay back then) and eventually moved to Breach Candy as permanent resident. On this journey, in his early twenties he went to UK for better study of front-of-television anchoring when his father was M.D., mind it Managing Director, of J. L. Morrison. That’s early 1980s. But like any Hollywood movie, our guy came from “lower-middle-class-we weren’t wealthy” background and had a trumpet on chest with lungs full of air to cry out of extremely successful journey.
Many of Indian Television’s first is his contribution that can’t be ignored and salute for that. But do we need a book for that?
Guys get a Starbucks’ coffee with corner table listening to your favourite music. That’s worth it but this book!!
September 13, 2016
One thing I would like to mention here is the way Mr. Ronnie used the word "We" instead of "I" in the book while referring the journey of UTV. I appreciate the way he gives credit to his team. He has written a very nice book which lets one have a instance of the path of entrepreneurship. Thanks!
October 1, 2015
I am about to take a major decision of my career and this is one book which has really helped to take that decision. The title suggests that it's a self help book. But it isn't and that makes all the difference. Ronnie's journey as an entrepreneur is highly inspiring. When I finished reading 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' I knew that I would always want to be an entrepreneur. This book has made me understand why we call it a journey. once an entrepreneur always an entrepreneur. It's a journey not an outing and so you can't make a deal that you would try it out for two years and see. That mindset is a complete recipe for failure. This is what Ronnie has to say say and these words are registered in my mind and will remain there all my life.
December 4, 2016
Book is complete journey of Ronnie who is first generation entrepreneur. In every industry he started, he was an outsider but still managed success.
Personally, I had expected lot of anecdotes from Ronnie's journey but Ronnie gave lot of gyan which I feel unnecessary. And also, I expected missed opportunities like gangs of wasseypur etc. I always read books by guys who done it and wrote about it instead of those university professor type who study industry and come up with their own conclusions. I could have skipped this one.
Personally, I had expected lot of anecdotes from Ronnie's journey but Ronnie gave lot of gyan which I feel unnecessary. And also, I expected missed opportunities like gangs of wasseypur etc. I always read books by guys who done it and wrote about it instead of those university professor type who study industry and come up with their own conclusions. I could have skipped this one.
October 26, 2017
a true entrepreneurial journey....detailing about his success through roads of failure. Mr. screwvala shared his experience about his journey from starting a toothbrush company to UTV production, giving advice how to make best decision when you face business problem.
p.s : A must read book if you want to start your own business.
p.s : A must read book if you want to start your own business.
March 5, 2021
Hooter: Lessons from an entrepreneur with a start up even before the term start up had made it to India.
Ronnie Screwvala and UTV are household names we were born with with almost every other TV serial content created by them, his theatre innings, then them spanning across the various media spectrum and into movies with duds but also blockbusters like Rang De Basanti and Swades. In between there is a stint with manufacturing toothbrushes which I wasn't aware of.
Ronnie shares a heartfelt look back his journey, owning up to failures more than successes and repeatedly using we in his stint at UTV signifying the importance that he lays to his team. This is an interesting insight into the journey he has gone through in the media industry of the 90s and beyond.
I share his penchant for theatre and how it relates to various situations in real life like the board room meeting with Murdoch's team and him being alone being equivalent to being on stage with entire audience staring down at you.
There are or aren't learnings you'd take away from this book. gets a bit repetitive at times with his philosophies which could have done with some crisp editing but provides some interesting nuggets of behind the scenes media - the Rang De Basanti screening to the army fraternity before getting censor board certificate, watching SRk, SLB , MD and ARB at Cannes making a bold desi statement to the run ins with international media houses like NewsCorp, Fox and Disney.
If you are interested in hearing Ronnie Screwvala's entrepreneurial story - this book gives you exactly that.
Ronnie Screwvala and UTV are household names we were born with with almost every other TV serial content created by them, his theatre innings, then them spanning across the various media spectrum and into movies with duds but also blockbusters like Rang De Basanti and Swades. In between there is a stint with manufacturing toothbrushes which I wasn't aware of.
Ronnie shares a heartfelt look back his journey, owning up to failures more than successes and repeatedly using we in his stint at UTV signifying the importance that he lays to his team. This is an interesting insight into the journey he has gone through in the media industry of the 90s and beyond.
I share his penchant for theatre and how it relates to various situations in real life like the board room meeting with Murdoch's team and him being alone being equivalent to being on stage with entire audience staring down at you.
There are or aren't learnings you'd take away from this book. gets a bit repetitive at times with his philosophies which could have done with some crisp editing but provides some interesting nuggets of behind the scenes media - the Rang De Basanti screening to the army fraternity before getting censor board certificate, watching SRk, SLB , MD and ARB at Cannes making a bold desi statement to the run ins with international media houses like NewsCorp, Fox and Disney.
If you are interested in hearing Ronnie Screwvala's entrepreneurial story - this book gives you exactly that.
September 30, 2020
I always admired UTV for the pathbreaking movies they produced, some of them like rang de basanti are going to be etched in my memory forever. In this book Ronnie Screwala, the founder of this production house, takes you through his entrepreneurial journey, he talks about his obsession with scale, challenges around managing creative people and taking bold risks. The tone of the book is a bit preachy but would be a suitable read if you're a wannabe entrepreneur in India.
November 30, 2019
A must listen for the would be entrepreneurs. Ronnie is more than experienced in the business of things. More mature advice.
December 16, 2020
My first book about Desi business success story... It's more about sharing his experience and take aways from it and less about the story part... Nice read anyway.
March 28, 2021
Read the audiobook.
Must read for anyone in the entrepreneurship journey.
Must read for anyone in the entrepreneurship journey.
March 29, 2020
Story of Ronnie, a first gen Indian entrepreneur, founder of Utv.
In this book, he shares so many things about Indian entrepreneurial world through his experiences from starting a tooth brush company to producing Rang de basanti. Now, he started his second innings with Upgrad.
In this book, he shares so many things about Indian entrepreneurial world through his experiences from starting a tooth brush company to producing Rang de basanti. Now, he started his second innings with Upgrad.
February 2, 2021
Good insight into UTV and Ronnie Screwala's journey and learnings from him.
April 17, 2015
Super read. One of the best books on entrepreneurship I've read
January 31, 2020
One of the better Indian business biographies out there, stays away from usual advise giving.
October 15, 2020
May help novice entrepreneur but it's more like an autobiography rather than the title.
July 1, 2018
There is nothing special than reading an autobiography by one of the many successful Indian men who did it without any complaints or excuses. We generally get excited knowing about the successes of the individuals in western part of the world but forget to appreciate the people doing well against all odds living and breathing around us. One such man is Ronnie Screwvala who is a wonderful example of how to be an entrepreneur and a success story. He has written his own tale of success and failures In the book named “Dream with your eyes open” having him on the cover page lying on the carpet with a cup of tea placed besides him. The book is tagged as “An Entrepreneurial Journey”. So the author very directly and clearly states here that he is not going to tell what person he is or what his background has been but will only focus on his entrepreneurship life and lessons.
The book is very crisply written without extending the stories with useless detailing. Ronnie exactly knows the value of time hence he assures that he speaks most in as less words as possible. This is what makes the book a special read as you will not have to read much to gain insights on his entrepreneurship role but only 166 pages. The book is divided in 13 different chapters where each one of them focuses on a learning or a stage of Ronnie’s life. The book is written in a very simple language for every student to a new corporate slave or an entrepreneur to understand the same without having to read between lines. The best part about Ronnie’s book is that he rather than talking only about what actions he undertook also discusses in detailing what his team underwent to make something a success. He also talks about his failures with the same enthusiasm which tells how literally he is proud of each second that he has worked upon his life to be a successful entrepreneur.
It is only after reading the book you will realize the number of different things that Ronnie has been involved with. You will be surprised to notice the different scales of business he overtook and started right from Zero and ended up being either the topmost performer or at least in the merit list for sure. Ronnie has ensured that he even discusses the amount and costs involved in the projects without shying away from disclosing the same. Ronnie has taken names of other popular celebrities and talked good or bad experiences he had with them without any fear which makes it an interesting read to know the tie-ups and communication between these personalities.
Talking about the drawbacks of the book, Ronnie doesn’t talk much about his personal lifestyle which makes him a performer he is. To learn about a successful man, you need to know both- his professional insights and his personal lifestyle because until and unless, you do not know both, you will never be able to replicate his success by following his footsteps. Also, there are many advises that he has just quoted to be followed rather than giving heavy explanations on the same. The book also does not find any kind of timeline which doesn’t allow the reader to understand the real struggle of the man in multi-tasking or taking one decision after another. Except these drawbacks, this book is surely readable to understand how one needs to take risks in life to lead a successful entrepreneurial life. I give this book 3.5 star out of 5.
Thanks.
ABHILASH RUHELA!!!
The book is very crisply written without extending the stories with useless detailing. Ronnie exactly knows the value of time hence he assures that he speaks most in as less words as possible. This is what makes the book a special read as you will not have to read much to gain insights on his entrepreneurship role but only 166 pages. The book is divided in 13 different chapters where each one of them focuses on a learning or a stage of Ronnie’s life. The book is written in a very simple language for every student to a new corporate slave or an entrepreneur to understand the same without having to read between lines. The best part about Ronnie’s book is that he rather than talking only about what actions he undertook also discusses in detailing what his team underwent to make something a success. He also talks about his failures with the same enthusiasm which tells how literally he is proud of each second that he has worked upon his life to be a successful entrepreneur.
It is only after reading the book you will realize the number of different things that Ronnie has been involved with. You will be surprised to notice the different scales of business he overtook and started right from Zero and ended up being either the topmost performer or at least in the merit list for sure. Ronnie has ensured that he even discusses the amount and costs involved in the projects without shying away from disclosing the same. Ronnie has taken names of other popular celebrities and talked good or bad experiences he had with them without any fear which makes it an interesting read to know the tie-ups and communication between these personalities.
Talking about the drawbacks of the book, Ronnie doesn’t talk much about his personal lifestyle which makes him a performer he is. To learn about a successful man, you need to know both- his professional insights and his personal lifestyle because until and unless, you do not know both, you will never be able to replicate his success by following his footsteps. Also, there are many advises that he has just quoted to be followed rather than giving heavy explanations on the same. The book also does not find any kind of timeline which doesn’t allow the reader to understand the real struggle of the man in multi-tasking or taking one decision after another. Except these drawbacks, this book is surely readable to understand how one needs to take risks in life to lead a successful entrepreneurial life. I give this book 3.5 star out of 5.
Thanks.
ABHILASH RUHELA!!!
December 13, 2025
Dream With Your Eyes Open positions itself as an entrepreneurial guidebook, but its real strength lies in how comfortably it straddles memoir, manual, and quiet manifesto. Ronnie Screwvala writes with the practiced calm of someone who has built and rebuilt more than most people will ever attempt, and that steadiness gives the book a grounded, almost companionable tone. Though the examples lean toward an Indian business landscape, the insights themselves feel borderless. Ambition, fear, risk, and resilience are the same in every language, and Screwvala navigates them with refreshing candor.
Instead of smothering the reader with abstractions or jargon, Screwvala reaches for direct, unpretentious language, almost as if he’s trimming away anything that might distract from the truth of experience. He draws freely from moments of triumph and failure alike, and the failures, in particular, are treated with a sincerity most business books shy away from. There’s no performative humility here, just the honest admission that missteps are part of the architecture of success.
The through-line, chapter after chapter, is uncompromising self-belief. The kind that requires ignoring naysayers, quieting your own self-sabotage, and refusing to be defined by circumstances. Screwvala’s message is clear: belief is not an accessory; it’s infrastructure.
The chapter-end summaries are a thoughtful touch. Concise, clean, and surprisingly effective. They turn the book into something closer to a reference text you can return to whenever your momentum falters.
And then there’s the FAQ appendix which reads like a curated list of the questions entrepreneurs quietly ask themselves like when do I leap and how do I choose partners and a mentor? Each question is met with the same clarity and pragmatism found in the main chapters, making this section a genuinely useful toolkit rather than a decorative extra.
In the end, Dream With Your Eyes Open succeeds because it treats entrepreneurship as a series of decisions shaped by courage, clarity, and a willingness to learn in public. It’s practical without being dull, optimistic without being naïve, and grounded enough to stand apart. For anyone standing at the edge of a dream and trying to decide whether to step forward, Screwvala offers both the nudge and the map.
Instead of smothering the reader with abstractions or jargon, Screwvala reaches for direct, unpretentious language, almost as if he’s trimming away anything that might distract from the truth of experience. He draws freely from moments of triumph and failure alike, and the failures, in particular, are treated with a sincerity most business books shy away from. There’s no performative humility here, just the honest admission that missteps are part of the architecture of success.
The through-line, chapter after chapter, is uncompromising self-belief. The kind that requires ignoring naysayers, quieting your own self-sabotage, and refusing to be defined by circumstances. Screwvala’s message is clear: belief is not an accessory; it’s infrastructure.
The chapter-end summaries are a thoughtful touch. Concise, clean, and surprisingly effective. They turn the book into something closer to a reference text you can return to whenever your momentum falters.
And then there’s the FAQ appendix which reads like a curated list of the questions entrepreneurs quietly ask themselves like when do I leap and how do I choose partners and a mentor? Each question is met with the same clarity and pragmatism found in the main chapters, making this section a genuinely useful toolkit rather than a decorative extra.
In the end, Dream With Your Eyes Open succeeds because it treats entrepreneurship as a series of decisions shaped by courage, clarity, and a willingness to learn in public. It’s practical without being dull, optimistic without being naïve, and grounded enough to stand apart. For anyone standing at the edge of a dream and trying to decide whether to step forward, Screwvala offers both the nudge and the map.
July 2, 2020
it’s always intriguing to get a glimpse into the journey of those who have achieved big success... Ronnie Screwvala’s achievements in the media and entertainment industry are well known - starting as an outsider, he took gradual steps to grow from cable tv, to television channels, video games, and eventually a movie studio...
but it is the enterprising spirit of his early days - when he sells seats in the balcony of his house to offer a glimpse of film stars attending premieres at the theatre opposite - that stands out for me... just the initiative, the confidence at that early age to test an idea and the ability to create opportunity from limited resources is admirable, and when combined with his humility to accept the results (good or bad), his impatience to move on to something else - it becomes exemplary... these are early indicators of the qualities that set the tone for his journey thereafter... and over time get further accentuated by his courage to dream big and the passion to care more about potential rewards than potential losses... thus simply raising the levels of achievements that much higher!
the entrepreneurial journey is like most others - inspired by a big dream, fuelled by passion and sustained by self-belief and the drive to keep going, and of-course supported by willingness to constantly push the limits and try new things or simply do things differently... but Ronnie’s journey also reinforces the role of technology, the potential of global partnerships, the challenges of scale... he warns against the risk of comparisons, the need to stay restless, to question the constant... he demonstrates the power of opportunities that exist on a new path, one that is different from the herd and reminds that the greatest attribute to success is the ability to stay the course!
but the one takeaway for me from his story is his personal advise to appreciate the power of humour, and that laughter makes life’s darkest events conquerable... and an open progressive mindset opens up avenues that don’t seem to exist...
but it is the enterprising spirit of his early days - when he sells seats in the balcony of his house to offer a glimpse of film stars attending premieres at the theatre opposite - that stands out for me... just the initiative, the confidence at that early age to test an idea and the ability to create opportunity from limited resources is admirable, and when combined with his humility to accept the results (good or bad), his impatience to move on to something else - it becomes exemplary... these are early indicators of the qualities that set the tone for his journey thereafter... and over time get further accentuated by his courage to dream big and the passion to care more about potential rewards than potential losses... thus simply raising the levels of achievements that much higher!
the entrepreneurial journey is like most others - inspired by a big dream, fuelled by passion and sustained by self-belief and the drive to keep going, and of-course supported by willingness to constantly push the limits and try new things or simply do things differently... but Ronnie’s journey also reinforces the role of technology, the potential of global partnerships, the challenges of scale... he warns against the risk of comparisons, the need to stay restless, to question the constant... he demonstrates the power of opportunities that exist on a new path, one that is different from the herd and reminds that the greatest attribute to success is the ability to stay the course!
but the one takeaway for me from his story is his personal advise to appreciate the power of humour, and that laughter makes life’s darkest events conquerable... and an open progressive mindset opens up avenues that don’t seem to exist...
June 10, 2022
Part preaching, part anecdotes, part biography this was a easy read. I always love books which are easy to read (I think they are difficult to write).
I picked this up on a whim after a saw a Linkedin post on 'Top books to read for xxxxx'
I had no idea who Ronnie was so in that sense the book opened up me to the media business.
Ronnie talks of various stages of business - starting up, scaling, exiting and key points in each stage. The author writes well on his entrepreneurial journey from small initiatives to big successes I especially liked his approach to exit ! ( spoiler - You can't time and exit)
The anecdotes in the movie production business are very interesting and eye opening ( who doesn't like a peek into Bollywood stars)
Each chapter has a dedicated Gyan section at the end. Normally my mind is closed to Gyan lectures, but somehow I found Ronnie's lectures digestible
The key thing I took away - be fluid, be alert and move on !
Ronnie says he has failed many times and asks readers to embrace failure. But, I actually did not find him embracing failure in the book . I found most failures coated with excuses and blame on others. Very rarely is there a ' I messed up. I was wrong'
Another thing I love is the way Ronnie is generous in appreciating most of his peers. He has invariable said something good about any character referenced in the book.
Each chapter has a dedicated Gyan section at the end. Normally my mind is closed to Gyan lectures, but somehow I found Ronnie's lectures digestible.
On the downside, I would have loved a little more rigor and business stories.(and a slightly larger font size)
I picked this up on a whim after a saw a Linkedin post on 'Top books to read for xxxxx'
I had no idea who Ronnie was so in that sense the book opened up me to the media business.
Ronnie talks of various stages of business - starting up, scaling, exiting and key points in each stage. The author writes well on his entrepreneurial journey from small initiatives to big successes I especially liked his approach to exit ! ( spoiler - You can't time and exit)
The anecdotes in the movie production business are very interesting and eye opening ( who doesn't like a peek into Bollywood stars)
Each chapter has a dedicated Gyan section at the end. Normally my mind is closed to Gyan lectures, but somehow I found Ronnie's lectures digestible
The key thing I took away - be fluid, be alert and move on !
Ronnie says he has failed many times and asks readers to embrace failure. But, I actually did not find him embracing failure in the book . I found most failures coated with excuses and blame on others. Very rarely is there a ' I messed up. I was wrong'
Another thing I love is the way Ronnie is generous in appreciating most of his peers. He has invariable said something good about any character referenced in the book.
Each chapter has a dedicated Gyan section at the end. Normally my mind is closed to Gyan lectures, but somehow I found Ronnie's lectures digestible.
On the downside, I would have loved a little more rigor and business stories.(and a slightly larger font size)
October 24, 2019
We live in the golden age of #entrepreneurship. There is lots of know-how on how to go about it, there is enough funding (most often, funding is not an issue, and if the #idea is well designed and comprehensively validated, funding is never the real issue), and of course - there is no real dearth of quality problems, most certainly in India! So, why do then most #startups bite the dust within a couple years of their grand start? Why #founders start thinking of "exit" even before building something of value? Why overnight valuations of millions of dollars are considered sexy even if there is no real #businessmodel?
India has traditionally been a franchise country - we have always taken refuge in following the herd, working for established labels, and even when it came to business models, we have sought safety in simply copying it lest we might be signing up for more risk than we can afford to. However, that was past. In last 15-20 years, we have seen the arrival of world-class entrepreneur from India. Not only have they solved the uniquely Indian problem, but they have also solved it within the overall Indian context that makes it so interesting. Ronnie Screwwala's story is a great education for anyone!
India has traditionally been a franchise country - we have always taken refuge in following the herd, working for established labels, and even when it came to business models, we have sought safety in simply copying it lest we might be signing up for more risk than we can afford to. However, that was past. In last 15-20 years, we have seen the arrival of world-class entrepreneur from India. Not only have they solved the uniquely Indian problem, but they have also solved it within the overall Indian context that makes it so interesting. Ronnie Screwwala's story is a great education for anyone!
February 18, 2024
Dream with Your Eyes Open 📖 by Ronnie Screwvala isn't just a biography; it's a firestarter for anyone with a spark of ambition.
✌🏼 Screwvala's journey isn't about glitzy successes : No unicorn magic, just pure hustle , grit , and learning from every stumble.
✊🏼 He demystifies the "entrepreneur myth" : Forget fancy degrees and silver spoons. Passion, perseverance, and building a strong team are the real weapons in this game.
🇮🇳 India's potential is on fire! : Screwvala paints a vivid picture of the opportunities booming in our country. It's inspiring and empowering to see someone who truly believes in our future.
🚀 Failure is just fuel. Screwvala doesn't shy away from his setbacks. He shows how embracing and learning from failures can be the catalyst for your next big win.
⏳ Dream big, act small. Start with practical, actionable steps. Forget waiting for the "perfect moment," just grab the bull by the horns and iterate your way to success.
This book isn't just for aspiring entrepreneurs; it's for anyone who wants to live life on their own terms. Screwvala's energy, optimism, and practical advice are infectious. If you're looking for a kick in the pants to chase your dreams, you won't regret reading this!
✌🏼 Screwvala's journey isn't about glitzy successes : No unicorn magic, just pure hustle , grit , and learning from every stumble.
✊🏼 He demystifies the "entrepreneur myth" : Forget fancy degrees and silver spoons. Passion, perseverance, and building a strong team are the real weapons in this game.
🇮🇳 India's potential is on fire! : Screwvala paints a vivid picture of the opportunities booming in our country. It's inspiring and empowering to see someone who truly believes in our future.
🚀 Failure is just fuel. Screwvala doesn't shy away from his setbacks. He shows how embracing and learning from failures can be the catalyst for your next big win.
⏳ Dream big, act small. Start with practical, actionable steps. Forget waiting for the "perfect moment," just grab the bull by the horns and iterate your way to success.
This book isn't just for aspiring entrepreneurs; it's for anyone who wants to live life on their own terms. Screwvala's energy, optimism, and practical advice are infectious. If you're looking for a kick in the pants to chase your dreams, you won't regret reading this!
January 18, 2020
It is the Entrepreneurial journey of Ronnie Screwvala.
He detailed his best to worst experiences and the lessons learnt in his life in his entrepreneurial journey.
The first few chapters are his early days of sweeping into the communication and the entertainment industry. How the various movies and the ventures started uplifting the game. The lessons he learnt from the two decades of building his successful business and India's future in entrepreneurship.
This books feel like a guide to entrepreneurs as what went wrong and what is right. This is just to inspire you to be successful and raise your ambitions. If you want to own a business or have your own journey as an entrepreneur and want to have a little peek to real entrepreneurship, just read it.
I love this book because he bullets his points about what is important here and the quotation above each chapters which sums up the situation in that chapter is great. The way he answered to that questions, I just sticked to this book.
I love the theme of this book as it says 'it can be done', not 'I did it'. Just dream your own dream, and when you do, Dream with your eyes open.
He detailed his best to worst experiences and the lessons learnt in his life in his entrepreneurial journey.
The first few chapters are his early days of sweeping into the communication and the entertainment industry. How the various movies and the ventures started uplifting the game. The lessons he learnt from the two decades of building his successful business and India's future in entrepreneurship.
This books feel like a guide to entrepreneurs as what went wrong and what is right. This is just to inspire you to be successful and raise your ambitions. If you want to own a business or have your own journey as an entrepreneur and want to have a little peek to real entrepreneurship, just read it.
I love this book because he bullets his points about what is important here and the quotation above each chapters which sums up the situation in that chapter is great. The way he answered to that questions, I just sticked to this book.
I love the theme of this book as it says 'it can be done', not 'I did it'. Just dream your own dream, and when you do, Dream with your eyes open.
November 27, 2025
This book is Story of Ronnie screwwala , i must say this man is golden boy of Entrepreneurship His journey is must recommend read for everyone out there, from rags to Riches this is self made man story, how he started with Toothbrush business, Starting of UTV network, his triumph kids and youth channel, vijay TV for south extension, Hungama TV and Disney venture, Coming to cable TV business, and finally tried there hands in sports league like Kabaddi and got a team U Mumba , His life have setback with media channels as some flops make it hit them hard but swades Rang de Basanti made it possible to get struck to it, Homeshop 18 venture with Doordarshan and some finest works and things he did for his business which became a highly profitable venture for him, He earn respect, money , a name for himself in the industry by simply grabbing every opportunity that come his way and that was truly a master of all trade can do, he take things to exponential heights in which ever business he but his hands in and growth and diversification did everything for him , things he did for company. This book is finest example of Entrepreneurship and one can learn many things from him.
May 25, 2020
Although this book has been written keeping entrepreneurship and business in mind, many lessons and personal incidences that was shared in this book from Ronnie's life are inspiring and worth remembering. I like the language used in this book. It reflects the mindset of a true entrepreneur and a winning attitude; that is, the perfect and precise use of words, making a statement or sharing a lesson with minimum words but precise and deep meaning. Impactful is the word.
*[I just realized I am somewhat doing the same]*
Also, this book talks very straight without any bullshit. That's another thing I like about Ronnie's writing. See, all business :-D.
Having said that, apart from technical things, it tells you one very important thing. Like business, in life also there is no better time than NOW and nothing is permanent. Your next succes is just a step away. All you have got to do is the next right thing, one step at a time.
Worth a read for some real insights and inspiration.
And, this is not a self help book.
🌺Happy Reading 🌺
*[I just realized I am somewhat doing the same]*
Also, this book talks very straight without any bullshit. That's another thing I like about Ronnie's writing. See, all business :-D.
Having said that, apart from technical things, it tells you one very important thing. Like business, in life also there is no better time than NOW and nothing is permanent. Your next succes is just a step away. All you have got to do is the next right thing, one step at a time.
Worth a read for some real insights and inspiration.
And, this is not a self help book.
🌺Happy Reading 🌺
June 9, 2020
Book name- 'Dream with your eyes open.'
Author- Ronnie Screwvala 'Anything that can happen will happen.' The biography of Roonie sir and how he struggled with his life before becoming the 'FIRST GENERATION Entrepreneur' is the best book for Entrepreneurs. 🍀🍀🍀
This book taught me that failures come in everyone's life, and there is a time when you will have a setback, but that shouldn't stop you. If you stop, you will lose.
🍀🍀🍀
The movie Rang de Basanti was a setback before release for him as his 400 million was in stake just because defence minister murdered of Ajay in the film and the censor board didn't give the censor certificate because of this. But then the minister and Army general saw the movie during screening, and later the movie was released, and the film was the blockbuster of all time.
🍀🍀🍀
Ronnie sir has worked with many Entrepreneurs, business tycoons and have written the life of an Entrepreneur with all his experiences.
🍀🍀🍀
If you are having a seven-year business or want to know how the business work for an entrepreneur, this book is for YOU!!
Author- Ronnie Screwvala 'Anything that can happen will happen.' The biography of Roonie sir and how he struggled with his life before becoming the 'FIRST GENERATION Entrepreneur' is the best book for Entrepreneurs. 🍀🍀🍀
This book taught me that failures come in everyone's life, and there is a time when you will have a setback, but that shouldn't stop you. If you stop, you will lose.
🍀🍀🍀
The movie Rang de Basanti was a setback before release for him as his 400 million was in stake just because defence minister murdered of Ajay in the film and the censor board didn't give the censor certificate because of this. But then the minister and Army general saw the movie during screening, and later the movie was released, and the film was the blockbuster of all time.
🍀🍀🍀
Ronnie sir has worked with many Entrepreneurs, business tycoons and have written the life of an Entrepreneur with all his experiences.
🍀🍀🍀
If you are having a seven-year business or want to know how the business work for an entrepreneur, this book is for YOU!!
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