I came to
attend a prior appointment at Mr. Kumar’s Kolkata office right on schedule but Mr.
Kumar - General Manager (Purchase) was still busy in a meeting and I was told to
wait in his chamber for some more time. As usual I started reading my book and
I almost forgot that I was waiting for someone. More than an hour had passed
since I came in but my client was still missing. In between I was served one
cup of tea and the second time the steward came with two cups of tea and
snacks, I inquired about the second cup and he replied to me with a smile that
it was for GM sahib who was coming soon.
As
expected he landed within next five minutes and entered the room with a big
smile and simultaneously offered his apologies for the delay in arriving for
our scheduled meeting. He started eating the snacks and also offered me the
same. While taking a sip of the hot tea he inquired about
the book which I was reading and was still holding in my hand. The next half an
hour was spent on the books and the exchange of names of various books and
their authors. Although Mr. Kumar was commerce graduate but he was fond of
reading fictions. Finally he asked me about my favourite author and book, without
any hesitation I said: 'Ayn Rand' and the book: 'Fountain Head'.
He gave a
very broad smile, stood from his seat, came to my side of the table first shook
my hand and thereafter hugged me with lots of affection, fondness and warmth.
He then told me that his favourite book was also ‘Fountain Head’. He called the
steward again and instructed for one more round of tea. But I was not very keen
to have another cup of tea but Mr. Kumar insisted
and I could not refuse his offer.
We kept
on discussing for next one hour continuously on our product features and
benefits for their commercial project and suddenly between the said conversations
he asked me a very personal question about my salary. I was almost in a
shocking state but he understood my dilemma and told me the reason why he asked
this question. And without listening to my answer he uninterruptedly started
talking about his part time job which he does for a south based company where
they are recruiting sales agents for the company and in return the
new sales agent recruits new members and hence the chain was extended and a very
big team was formed. With every addition of the new member in the family the
income of all the members increases by default in proportionate manner.
Today
he belongs to Gold club (There are Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum clubs
based on the membership strength of individual sales agent). Right
now he earns more than his salary. He simply appoints new sales agents; give
them training and the wheel starts rolling. His Kolkata branch office is having
five thousand members as of date and he wanted me to join his winning team.
Thereafter
he explained to me the modus operandi and work profile of a Sales agent, later
he told me about the sales training programs and the handsome returns I will
get in the form of foreign tours, expensive gifts, fat incentive and last but
not the least the recognition in the society. I can earn more than what I am
earning today and my income will be at-least many-fold if
I work sincerely. With this additional income, I can fulfill all my dreams, buy
properties, gold/diamond jewelry, foreign trip and can retire from the job at
an early date of my choice. Enjoy my remaining life by becoming my own boss
without working for others, isn't it
a wonderful proposition?
I coolly
listened to him and at the end very politely said no to his offer and took his
permission to leave. At the outset, he was very upset, shocked and surprised
with my refusal but still concluded the conversation with a request to
reconsider my decision and let him know my final answer within a week’s time. I
left Mr. Kumar’s office after 6 PM in the evening.
While
driving home, I was evaluating and weighing the pros and cons of Mr. Kumar’s
proposal and I reached home in partly confused and wavering state of mind.
After dinner I sat down on my writing table and noted down brief notes about
today’s activities and required actions. I wanted to concentrate on my book but
I could not read more than two pages and closed the book in between. My wife
was watching her favourite serial on the TV and I was still moving around with
Mr. Kumar’s proposal. It was half past eleven, my wife had already gone to
sleep and I was still trying very hard to sleep but could not succeed.
Next
morning after breakfast, I left for office around nine in the morning. While
driving to office I reached to my final decision and that was to sincerely
concentrate on my present job, with aggressive approach, positive attitude, serious
efforts, hard work and adopt new strategies to exceed/over shoot the existing
targets of sales, revenue and margins by enhancing our present business in
value/volume and giving excellent performance throughout; finally putting all
out efforts to get an extra ordinary results in the present job itself rather
than opting for an extra income
outside.
The week
passed away without any problem and then came the weekend. I was at home on
Sunday morning when I got a call from Mr. Kumar, who was
passing Gariahat-crossing and he wanted to visit my house at Jodhpur Park,
Kolkata, that's why he inquired about my home address; I
was left with no option but to give him the direction to my house over phone
and within next fifteen minutes he reached my place along with his wife.
After
introduction, he straight away talked about his proposal with me in front of my
wife and daughters. Mrs. Kumar was also sharing her
experiences with us. I could see my wife’s expression/reactions which were not
very positive, she was totally in a dilemma; the reason being: first I had not
told her about Mr. Kumar’s visit and secondly his proposal about part-time job of
Sales agent has totally put her in an off-mood. Mr. Kumar repeated
the same story to my wife but this time supported with colored photo album,
product literature and samples which his company sells directly to the end-users through
Sales agents without involving any middlemen/distribution channels in between.
He even
started telling me not to think about my present job and said: “I can take the agency
in my wife’s name and I can work on her behalf as he used to do. I am employed
there for 9-AM to 6-PM job and I can do any other work after office hours, on
Sundays and holidays. Nobody will object to it, because I have already informed
my boss and in my views, neither it’s unethical nor wrong. Moreover, if we both
work for one full year seriously and appoint maximum number of new members, your
income will cross your present pay-packet without much problem”.
Mr. Kumar
seriously feels and believes that ours will be a great success story because I
am from marketing profession and my wife is from teaching profile; he liked me
personally that’s why he wanted me to join his team without any further delay.
They stayed for three hours with us and after lunch they left and invited us to
attend the monthly star celebration and prize distribution function at
Kolkata’s five star hotels in the evening which will be followed by dinner and
cocktail.
I was
more worried about my wife and daughters who have never witnessed such drama in
their entire lives before. I was wondering what I will tell them now. Who were
these guests, why they came and what their objective was? They stayed for few
hours with us and while leaving they stole all our peace. I never wanted to
tell them about Mr. Kumar’s proposal at the first place but I had been left with no option
but to tell them the entire story now without any further delay.
After
listening to my part of the story, my wife asked me only one question: “You
really want to join him but before that please remember your own views on value
system, ethic and loyalty?” I told them in a very crystal clear voice that I
don’t want to join Mr. Kumar; moreover, I don’t need this
kind of money, perks and luxury. I have decided to concentrate in my present
job, because I have been looked after by my present employer well and why
should I buy problem unnecessarily by doing part-time work for the third party which
was not appropriate, authentic, correct, ethical and right at the first place.
We did
not attend Mr. Kumar’s party that evening and I sent a personal note to Mr. Kumar informing
him about my decision of not joining his team and politely asked for his
forgiveness. Thereafter, I have tried my level best to erase the influence of
all the big talks on ambitions, assets, fame, money, respect, reputation and
wealth from my mind, body and soul. At the same time I also thanked my family
and God Almighty for giving me the right advice, courage, direction,
instruction and inspiration to move ahead towards the right path without
getting influenced in between with the boastful attraction of big money, fame
and luxury which I would not have earned in the right manner.
The next day
morning I informed my seniors about Mr. Kumar’s visit
to my house, his proposal and my final decision. My Boss listened to me
patiently and then congratulated me for taking a right decision in that regard.
Later
during our annual sales meet at Darjeeling Hotel my boss told this story in the
conference and advised all the team members to keep one thing in my mind: “When
you are employed you are in the service for full time (24X7) and you are
answerable to one master. You must stick to your main job only, any deviation
from the primary objective and responsibility will put you in such an awkward and
embarrassing situation which you will regret whole of your life. Moreover that route
will be one-way traffic only and returning will not be possible. Therefore,
this is an individual’s conscious call which every one of us has to take in our
lives from time to time but we must never ever forget the core issue and that
is before responding to anyone else in this matter we are first answerable to
our own conscious and soul and we must put our right foot forward towards the
right direction with hundred percent dedication, devotion, trust and take an
appropriate, correct, final and right decision fearlessly without being biased
and prejudiced.”
With
Prayers
Gurcharan
