Why Aditya Birla Group is big in my life?
Residing in Odisha, one would often felt left out. The kid who visited a metro in the summer vacation had a lot of things to brag about, notably the new wardrobe. People could always be heard talking, "Have you ever been to Bengaluru, taken a look at their shopping space?" "You have no idea about the kind of trendy clothes one can find in Mumbai?" "Bhubaneswar is the state capital, yet not a single premium store in sight!" So, why I am even bothered about buying clothes without wondering if everyone in the state has the purchasing power if the big brands come down one day? I recall the evening Pantaloons opened its first store in Bhubaneswar. The crowd was impossible. Many people could simply window shop and this was only in the year 2010. It was the talk of the town for quite a while. The mall culture was alien to us, even a dream for many. This was the first jolt I felt as a child when I did not understand business. I only thought of things we were missing out on, and if they would ever arrive.
The story of how industries pulled Odisha back to its feet after Independence and Aditya Birla group's contribution to the same is unparalleled. It gave us industries in critical sectors such as textiles and aluminium, bauxite and chemicals manufacturing. Generated employment through Hirakud Captive Power Plant, Aditya Captive Power Plant, and Hindalco Industries, in areas as far-flung as tribal belts of Sambalpur district. Unstoppable, Aditya Birla Chemicals (India) Limited decided to play more in Odisha's market and acquired Chlor-Alkali division of Jayshree Chemicals Limited in Ganjam district. This propelled the state's Aluminium business remarkably. Employment saw a significant spike, living conditions improved and ‘Make-in-Odisha' happened. A pool of labour and growing consumer population was now ready to welcome Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail. Pantaloons remains the biggest hit in Bhubaneswar, spreading the legacy to Cuttuck, Jharsuguda, and Bhadrak. ABG was a key player in revolutionizing consumer behaviour – giving them a plethora of affordable choices. A new apparel manufacturing plant in Rayagada district of Odisha will employ 2750-promising a large chunk of women workforce. Its first unit in Bhubaneswar took in 2000 people, recruiting more women in the process. The testimonies of women who have had careers with ABG are filled with positives. From engineers to manufacturers to sales staff, they were offered every chance to prove themselves. After touching upon diversity, Birla branched to sustainability by partnering with Odisha Discom to create a 10 MW Solar Power plant. Green Energy is exactly what the world needs right now from Odisha. Vodafone-Idea cellular network was the pillar of strength during the devastating ‘Fani’ cyclone, joining hands with arch-rivals just to serve citizens. It goes without saying, ABG has been an all-weather friend for us.
Aditya Birla identified investor-friendly governance, disaster preparedness and robust infrastructure powered by deep water ports in Odisha. In the words of Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, "The culture and DNA of Odisha is full of what it takes to build a modern industry. The historic temples at Puri and Konark are a testimony to the execution of project management skills even in the most difficult circumstances." Personally, nothing is more heart-warming than an industry pioneer recognizing the budding hub of engineers, manufacturers, and businessmen and wholeheartedly infusing ABG in our lives. A heartfelt thanks to ABG for tapping into Odisha and congratulations to us on our socio-economic transformation.
How I overcame challenges to achieve my ambitions in life so far?
Being apprehensive is not surprising in the 21st century. Millennials are often mounted with overwhelming expectations: to look better, earn more, think positive, maintain a social life and the fear of missing out creeps in. Under numerous obligations, and duties we often end up crumbling under them, failing to meet any. The greatest barrier to a better life is our self-created, overgrown expectations and fears.
A fresh electrical engineer graduate stepping into a Software company office can be overwhelming. I was plagued with self-doubt. To make things worse, my team lead would often be very vocal about my shortcomings. The first few days into corporate and my self-esteem had hit an all-time low. I would dread her absence and developed an unhealthy dependence on her to get the work done. This was the first red flag, I assumed everything I did was going to be a blunder. Losing confidence in oneself can take a toll. There will be several other situations where uncertainties would be thrown at us. Is clinging on to someone else for help the solution? I figured out, it’s only I who could help myself. Slowly I put in extra efforts at work, took notes on frequent issues and showstopper defects. Decided to brush up my technical knowledge and observe my peers in similar situations. As and when I crept out of the cocoon of self-doubt, interaction with other team members told me that I wasn’t the only one. They had all gone through difficult transition phases and were ready to face it again. The best way out is always through. And to make the journey smoother, always rely on one person- you. My take away was, "The best person and the only person you should aim to challenge is yourself."
There will always be external forces pulling you back, but the worse set back can be when it’s your own insecurities. In a crisis, compose yourself and brainstorm to find a way out. It is always there, just don’t let self-doubt cloud it. From what I witnessed, most roadblocks in our life are a manifestation of our over-thinking. You are made for bigger things in life.
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