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Rewind to 1980...That year in the 1st week of January landed in the big and laid back city of Hyderabad armed with an MBA from an unknown (at that time!) University, big dreams (in B/W) and Rs.470 in my pocket! Heard this story before?! But it happens all the time.. I continue to dream ..now in Color!
Its now been 30 long years in the same city...the 30 most important years of my life ..Did all of the following in these 30 years...in no particular order.
Learnt Hindi!...yes sir...that was the first and “must” thing any one has to do in Hyderabad to survive. Tempted to mention just two examples of my “those learning days” Hindi. Readers unfamiliar with Hindi may skip the next two paragraphs.
Once was chatting with few friends on Tank bund in the evening and all of them who were locals were commenting on some girls passing by in Hindi....of course not within their earshot!...I waited few minutes and was feeling all “left alone” as I couldn't partake in the commentary! Finally I interjected and said “Kya Khandaan Hai :) Imagine my friends faces!
Another time got into a rickshaw ...not auto rickshaw...the one pulled by men...which was very popular and cheap means of transportation all over Andhra Pradesh in those days....he wanted “Daed Rupaiya” I thought for a moment and told him I will not give him a paisa more than “Daa Hee Rupaiya”! The rickshaw puller agreed reluctantly! Irony is that I didn't know the meaning of both those words but presumed what I said was lower than what he demanded!
Started career in FMCG and stayed there for 15 years! Sold pickles, magazines, cement & edible oils. Got grounded in sales for few years and shifted to Marketing and was fortunate enough to get opportunity to launch few consumer products as well as the rare opportunity of “killing” a consumer product! Always believed in being a “big” man in a “small” organization rather than the other way. As a result became an expert in “guerilla marketing” and in stretching the rupee!
Became Entrepreneur after 15 years of working as the moment of “enough of not having enough” had arrived and am still in the same business! Presume this to be my success...starting , surviving and succeeding for 15 years in the same line.
Earned lot of money and spent all of it!
“Earned” 30 Kgs and retained all of it:)
Learnt to smile! Earlier “Hasna hamara khandaan me nahi thaa:)”
Learnt swimming! Yessir that too in my 50th year! Learnt both horizontal & vertical floating! Detractors say I float more than I swim.
Made few “good” friends and guess few “Enemies”. Presume its a package deal!
Finally learnt to cook! Now am not only a “Foodie” but also a “Cookie”:) Ican have (cook) my (pan) cake and eat it too!
