If you were to imagine a lala, would you see an unruly looking man looking over his accounts or a well-groomed man in a three-piece suit?

If you saw the former, it is likely because in a country where the majority of small and medium businesses are family-owned, lala is seen as a derogatory term for an unprofessional leader or owner of a business. In My Journey Through Lala Land, a memoir of a humble salesman and a marketing genius, BD Nathani dispels the myths associated with traditional family-owned businesses. Whether he worked for a Gujju lala or a Baniya lala, the author describes how most traditional family business owners he worked with built successful businesses strategically. Besides, they also enabled him to launch one of the most well-known international footwear and lifestyle brands in India, including Lotto, New Balance and Hi-Tec.

The book also tells the true tale of how the author built and grew Woodland from a small footwear company based in Karol Bagh to an international brand with the help of a visionary family business owner. However, in the beginning, the going was not hunky-dory. The author who always dreamt of travelling the world began by selling a cough syrup.

The book, thus, is an excellent read for not only middle rung managers but also management students who wish to know what makes a brand successful.