The year is 2016 and I have just passed out of college, on the hunt for a job. Coming from a modest background, I did not have a formal pair of clothes to wear at that point of time as buying them was more of a luxury born out of necessity. But the need arose and I went out to buy possibly my first pair of formals. And as it was my first pair of formal clothes, quality was important for my mother who was buying it for me. Not the price. We set out to a Peter England store in a famous mall in Pune.
After searching and trying out various combinations, finally settled for a cream white shirt and jet black colored pants. The look on my mother's face when I came out of the trial room wearing them spoke volumes. She finally saw her son all grown up from the small toddler she cradled. We finally paid the bill and came out of the store. Up until that point, I always thought of Peter England to be a foreign brand because the quality of the clothes were always premium, felt premium as well. That is when I noticed a small logo on the corner of the signboard outside the store. It was Aditya Birla Group. Peter England came under Aditya Birla Group! Never felt more ashamed (for thinking every premium brand is foreign) and proud (that it was an Indian company which produces such world class menswear and gave me an emotional experience as well) at the same time. Aditya Birla Group touched my life. And that is why, ABG's products will always have a small place in my heart.
After finally getting a job as a Software Engineer in a reputed firm, worked for a year before my company had to put me on the bench without any work as we had lost the project we were working on. I have always been a risk taker and someone who needs to work all the time. I am too young to not be working. I quit my job. The year is 2017. All companies I applied to wanted someone with a minimum experience of 2 years. Less than 2 years was considered to be as good as a fresher. I did not give up. Set out on searching for a job day in and day out. Went to old dilapidated buildings with offices crammed in a single flat to a call center who had purely night shifts. Not that any job is small or big, but I wanted a job where I could grow and hone my skills. Kept searching and learning for 6 straight months before I finally cracked it at another reputed MNC. It was straight hustle. After going to more than 10 interviews and getting rejected at 10 more without even an interview, I know what it takes to be down there. Humility is what this experience taught me and hustling skills is what I honed.