Introduction_________________________________________________________________________________________
Today I am a CEO, an Entrepreneur, a Technocrat, and
a Solution Architect. A career chiseled with milestones,
accredited to numerous start-ups & manifested in many
roles. In all, it was the passion that pushed me further
– steering ahead and surging forward, and which
continues to do so. There still lies a lot of quest for
more conquest.
When I jump-start to office straight from touchdown, the
jetlag notwithstanding, it was not for people to notice
or make a point to my peers, rather my passion to slog
precedes, propelling me to work.
Whilst the business thoughts trickle and trail to personal
ones, I realize that the thread to business acumen was
first picked up from a shop floor. The basics in business
didn’t begin in a school, rather a shop.
Being the youngest in the family, my father without any
reluctance inducted me into the workforce while I was
still trotting in the kinder-garden to lend a helping
hand. I treaded on a training that will become my lifeline.
It’s very hard to fathom the same father whom I
would have cursed to deprive my playing hours that I heap
praises today though he refused to hear any of it by departing
long before. Yet what he taught and what I learnt can
never draw a parallel. It was in the grocery shop he owned
I found myself recommending the best of rice variety to
a list of customers that was ever-growing by comprehending
the customer’s need. As an after-thought, I realize
that I was Selling Solutions. Something none teaches is
‘asking and knowing what customer wants’ -
The best lesson in business was learnt!
Like a painter busy with colors, I would have dabbed myself
in sales, marketing, software development, testing….little
bit of everything, thus leveraging my strength in each
line and built on it. If I know little, I start applying
in multiple ways. And I believe that’s how innovation
comes.
When I questioned
myself, what sets me apart?
I hear my mentor saying to me – “survival
instincts is your differentiator”
The
survivor……
Life itself is a challenge – the compelling constraints
that confronted me, the trying times that severely tested
my very sanity, but once I surpassed the hurdles, it was
like having ‘seen the worst’ that what was
to come looked ‘ordinary’.
There weren’t nothing much to dazzle during the
adolescence – academically I was averaging first
class and so to speak went largely unnoticed. For everyone
there comes a moment of glory - mine came and shone brighter
than anyone during the grueling grind in Indian Air Force
selection process for Pilot Officer. Out of 170 only 2
selected - I stood the topper. When I cleared the check
and balance erupted by IAF in the forms of stringent tests
ranging from aptitude to attitude to leadership, I realized
the capacity and capability to come out a winner. The
instinct to hang in there and survive somehow and succeed.
More than anyone, it was a self-discovery that would instill
a self-belief that I set higher standards for myself to
achieve and exceed. The survivor. The winner.
“Tough
times never last but tough people do.”
I had my own company doing good business with fair amount
of success. I was a distributor for a leading computer
manufacturing company. The sales soared and success was
bountiful. Then disaster struck – the manufacturing
company fell on hard times and crumbled. The business
collapsed and the impact proved more disastrous to the
ones doing well. Many distributors buckled but I stood
my feet and weathered the storm. I refused to flee but
decided to face the odds and obstacles. “Tough times
never last but tough people do.” I still went on
to answer all the calls of my customers, addressing grievances
aimed at redressal. In the calamity, rose the opportunity
to mend fences and build bridges. This event charged my
life to take up further challenges head-on. The survivor.
The winner.
”Problems do come
to heroes so that they can overcome”
I met with an accident, losing eyesight in both of my
eyes. Multiple surgeries were performed. That was the
difficult period – the darkest phase of my life.
Literally. Everyone wrote me off and I almost gave up.
Almost. To lead a personal life was not be, leave alone
professional. ”Problems do come to heroes so that
they can overcome” – a quote that inspired
me tremendously. There was a will within to win, to come
out unscathed. I came out as a ‘Complete Man’
with a new vision. Some of my personal achievements were
after the accident. Life has taught me more than I can
learn in other ways or otherwise. That was when I realized
the value of relationship – my investment in people
made the difference and made things work. The survivor.
The winner.
There has
been many occasions that people have asked me, what’s
your Strength?
Relationship Management. The trust I build is my biggest
strength.
Relationship built is for life. “Engagements may
be shorts, but relationships are not”. A quote I
love to quote often. In my 13 years of professional career
I have not known to lose one customer though business
engagement might have ceased to exist. Nevertheless, they
are still my customers. We need to ensure that they get
value for their money. It helped in building relationships.
Relationship back then wasn’t a conscientious attempt,
today every relationship needs to run its own course,
exist on its merits and sustain on its strength, but what
still works is the one without any expectation.
Sense of Purpose
The sense of achievement is not what I got from life
itself, it’s about what I give back. Like what Tata
said- ‘the cycle is completed.’ [In
J R D Tata’s words, " The cycle is thus complete;
what came from the people has gone back to the people
many times over.”]
And by giving I wish to accomplish the following objectives:
• Supporting the under-privileged children in education
• Feed the old and destitute
• Support the visually Challenged
What’s started on a small platform looks proven
while the future endeavor looks promising. I earnestly
wish to pass this message as a prayer so that others can
be touched to catch-up and contribute. The exercise ought
to become contagious. So do I wish and so be it!
The
Branding: I would like to be know as a professional
SET with
Passion
Speaking
with Passion
Entrepreneurship
with Passion
Training
with Passion
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