All eyes were on Donald Trump when he arrived there. What’ll he say or do that becomes the news of the world? An Indian journalist stopped Donald Trump in his tracks and got him to comment on India-US Trade talks.
That journalist was Chandra Srikanth of Moneycontrol.
As a TV news producer, I’ve worked with hundreds of journalists over the years. Many have come to me asking for resources. Very few use those optimally within the given window.
Chandra is one of them.
For instance, she comes to Delhi to moderate an interaction during a segment at an awards show hosted by CNN-News18. She records four more interactions around the event, maximising her travel opportunity from Bengaluru to Delhi. All are thoughtfully done, which creates a buzz on social media for Moneycontrol.
Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. What separates outcomes isn’t time. It’s what you do with it.
That’s where the difference lies.
The D E F G Framework
We’ve all heard the phrase “the ABCD factor”.
What sets people like Chandra apart is what I call the DEFG framework.
Let me explain, using her moment at Davos as context.
D — Drive
Drive isn’t just ambition.
It’s energy, hunger, preparation, and intent rolled into one. It’s the discipline to show up ready every single time, even when the odds are stacked against you. Chandra is visibly driven in her pursuits; you can see it in her body language, her questions, and her willingness to step forward when others hesitate.
#1 It’s your drive that gets you to the venue.
E— Enterprise
But that alone won’t move the needle.
You need enterprise. Enterprise is about initiative. It is the willingness to act, to take risks, to do something that might not work.
It’s asking yourself:
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Will I take this chance?
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Will I step out of line?
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Will I do something that stretches me?
This is where many stop. This is also where Chandra moves ahead.
#2 Enterprise puts you in the frame.
F— Feisty
You can’t be a news reporter without drive and enterprise. They’re the entry ticket.
But to thrive, you need spunk.
A feisty spirit combines courage with conviction. It’s the refusal to be intimidated by power, hierarchy, or proximity to authority. Standing your ground without being reckless.
That edge is visible in Chandra.
#3 Feistiness gives your voice weight.
G— Gumption
And then there’s gumption, the rarest ingredient.
Imagine the scene: A crowded room. Security everywhere. The most powerful man in the world is walking past.
How many people actually take the shot?
Chandra described the moment herself while writing for Moneycontrol:
“There were nearly 60–70 reporters around me, but I didn’t spot anyone from India. So I decided to take my shot. I knew I might just have two seconds, so I quickly rehearsed my question in my head.”
Gumption is the blend of guts, common sense and situational intelligence.
#4 Gumption is what gets you past the finish line.
So, Was it Luck?
This piece isn’t just about Chandra. It’s about how we casually dismiss effort by calling it luck. Next time you’re tempted to say, “She was lucky” or “He was in the right place at the right time”, pause for a moment.
Ask instead it.
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What preparation led up to that moment?
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What risks were taken?
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What hesitation was overcome?
Luck may open the door. But drive, enterprise, feistiness, and gumption decide who walks through it.
The Takeaway
Opportunities don’t announce themselves. They appear briefly. And when the moment comes, the difference between hoping and happening is never luck alone.
It’s everything you did before those two seconds arrived.
About Me
I am a thinker at all times. I see, I think. I hear, I think. I read, I think. Every weekend I write. I would love to know what you think.