Our life seldom unfolds in the way we expect it to and there is hardly much that we can do about it! I learned it the hard way when I joined a start-up after graduation. Passionate about entrepreneurship, I was elated to be selected for one of the most dynamic and buzzing start-ups of that time. So I packed my bags with dreams and excitement and landed at my first job. Soon thereafter, when I was receiving the first paycheck of my life, I got a complimentary shock. The company had laid off close to 100 employees for lack of business growth. 5 of my friends who joined with me were among the ones laid off but I survived. I guess not so happening way to celebrate your first paycheck when your roommate is laid off? What followed were 12 months of gruelling struggle for the company and its employees to get their act together or perish. Future looked bleak and many employees, including myself, were insecure and demotivated.
"Sometimes being pushed to the wall gives you the momentum necessary to get you over it!” - Peter de Jeger.
This was exemplified as I had embarked upon a mission to contribute the best I can do to my work without worrying about external factors. My ideas and beliefs were further fortified when I had come across this Louis Philippe advertisement with a message to look beyond the narrow realms of success and strive for excellence. This had a lasting impact on not just me but also a few colleagues with whom I had shared this ad. There were still times when my tenacity was tested to the extreme and I felt like giving up. I guess what kept me going was my immense positivity and grit.
“No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.” – Regina Bret
For me, confidence stems from the way I project myself to the world. Even if I am going to be executed, I would want that to be wearing my favourite two-piece suit and Oxfords. I have always loved the work-wear collection of Allen Solly, Louise Philippe and Van Heusen while I am a proud owner of a few masterpieces of these super-brands. So whenever my problems were about to blow out of proportion, I would simply dress up and show up to face them exuding with unflinching confidence! Because I knew, this too shall pass!
Guess what? We did it, and we did it in style! My company had transformed into one of the leading players in the market and was poised for exponential growth in the coming months. Being at the centre-stage of this epic turnaround is my proudest moment till date. In hindsight, all that mattered was my perseverance and confidence to be the best version of myself and take the bull by its horns. I thank the Aditya Birla Group and its super-brands for playing a big role in instilling this confidence and audacity, which eventually won me the war!
My journey has just begun and I am cognizant and excited about the challenges that lie ahead of me. The lessons that I have learned while embarking on this roller-coaster ride will stay with me forever, and so will the super-brands of Aditya Birla Group!