Create conversations to clear confusions

Stories of Role Models

When I was in 9th, a friend's brother got selected for NDA. He distributed sweets. I was impressed.

Next day, I had a chat with Mrs Dayamani - our English teacher. She encouraged me to move towards my dreams by trusting myself.

Talking to her helped.

In my family, the Army is a tradition. I decided to take the CDS exam after graduation and started preparing.

In 1989, I got my commission into the Indian Army.

What a joy the next 7 years were! - as I led my men from the front.

Posted in the Kashmir valley in times of the initial insurgency - we would move every 2 months.

I learnt from my Jawans that if you can respect a person, care and provide for him - in return, they will even lay down their life for you.

I also learnt I could survive and thrive anywhere.

During army days, I had seen the power the District Collectors had. Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan had a 5% reservation for ex-servicemen in state civil services.

My army commission would end. What would I do after that?

I had a conversation with my father. He put implicit trust in whatever dream I had for myself. His support gave me wings to prepare. I began to study.

In 1998, I joined Punjab Civil Service. 

After joining, I found it hard to stomach the corruption. Being a Fauji did not help.

So, I used my time there to also do a PG diploma in HR.

I wanted to get into the corporate world but did not know what to chose.

I reached out to my army course-mate Avijit. By now, I was a confirmed believer in conversations to clear my head :)

He said, 'Why don't you go into training?' You will make a great trainer. In all our years together, I have never seen you without a book!'

That shaped my next step..

The telecom boom had begun. I joined the training team at Reliance Infocomm.

I had a lot of fun, conducting leadership and behavioural workshops.

Sales trainings would pass me by, as I did not have any selling experience.

I remedied that in the next 7 months on my own steam.

Every weekend, I would land up at a Delhi distributor of our company. Then make sales rounds. I learnt how to sell on the streets of Delhi.

I started conducting sales trainings after that :)

In the next 6 years, I also worked for Tata Sky. I conducted many workshops. I began to measure their financial impact.  I also got certified by several top-notch global trainers.

Training jobs tend to plateau after a while, but I loved making the difference that I did.

So, it was Crucial Conversation time once again. This time with my wife.

I decided to turn into an entrepreneur and founded Impact Consulting. With God's grace, we have done well.

The pandemic did create an anxious moment or two, but a conversation at the doorsteps of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib nudged me back.

The priest there said, 'Kare karwayae aape raam' - He is the doer. He gets it done.

That is how my story continues. Kare Karwayae aape raam - sending me friends and well-wishers, when I need them for a conversation or two :)