It was my 15th birthday and I had just got a new mobile phone as a gift. I had always been a huge fan of the Abhishek Bachchan starring 'Idea' ads, so I went to my nearest 'recharge store' and 'got Idea'. For the next couple of years, 'Idea' became my best friend. It was there when I asked someone out for the first time in life, it was there when I called up my parents to tell them I had failed a test, it was there when I had my first heartbreak, and it was there for every moment before and after. They say that the years 16 through 19 are the years you grow up- from being a happy-go-lucky teenager to a young man with actual responsibilities. Well then in a sense, Idea was there while I was growing up- through happiness and through pain. The low cost group calling kept friends together, the free messages per day kept long distance relationships alive and the Idea Internet Network got us through last minute project submissions. Not all heroes wear capes.
Fast forward a few years, while pursuing my graduation in Metallurgy I land an internship at Hindalco Industries. My father took me to the store and bought me a Louis Philippe Shirt. A bluish, full sleeved shirt for me to wear on my first day. I specifically remember my first day as I felt so extremely proud that I had achieved something worthwhile in life- something worthy of a Louis Philippe shirt. I held my head up all day as I entered the huge plant compound. The next two months were the most informative and an amazing learning experience for me. Being a metallurgy student-getting to know how Aluminium is made, from the ore to the finished metal was quite the experience. I got to work with some very talented individuals and came across a strong culture both in terms of work and personality while interacting with people from the Aditya-Birla Group. Now that I look back, since then, I have bought several shirts;my parents, my friends,relatives have bought me shirts-but somehow that bluish, full sleeved Louis Philippe shirt still has a special place in my heart.Louis Philippe - it might have just been a brand of apparel, but for a middle class boy, it was something bigger. It was almost like a dream coming true.I felt I mattered, and that I'd be going places with hard work and determination. Louis Philippe gave me that push, gave me that recognition. Not all heroes wear capes.
‘How I overcame challenges to achieve my ambitions in life so far’
'Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up'- Rocky
This takes me back to my Sales and Marketing Internship during college. Being an Engineering student, Sales and Marketing was a totally different ball game and soon I found that my enthusiasm and knack for this line of work had landed me into an uncharted territory-one I knew precious little about. I had been recruited on the back of a very strong interview, and folks at the organization had high hopes from me- they were backing me to be their star performer.
But reality is harsh- 1 week down the line, I had made 0 sales, moreover I hadn't even gotten a single client down to the office for a meeting.I couldn't figure it out- there wasn't a formula to sales. There is no way a memorized pitch can work for several people in different scenarios. It just didn't work that way. Sleepless nights, expectations not lived upto, my personal incompetence at this new job-they were all catching unto me. But I refused to give up- I'd still try my best to persuade a client, I'd follow up frequently, I cold called- though I wasn't winning, I managed to hang in there.
I looked up everything from 'How to sell a pen' to 'Motivational videos'. I spoke to people I knew who were doing well in this field, I closely followed senior folks at the firm, and kept trying and trying and soon the day came-my first sale. I was off the mark and up and running. I made a couple more over the weekend, and I knew I was in business. More experience brought more insight, more insight brought better conversations. I was finally understanding how it works.The formula to sales is 'there isn't any formula'. Over the next week, I crossed double digits and when my internship was over, I was the only intern to have made over 50 sales in 2 months. From the lowest performer to the guy with the highest numbers, there were only two things that helped me along-hard work and persistence.
And I feel, they can help you overcome any challenge in life. The internship drew me closer to this line of work, and I realized my knack and interest for sales and marketing. I ended up working in Market Research during my first full time job, and now I am pursuing my business degree from one of the most reputed colleges in the country.
Referring to my earlier quote- 'Am I a champion?' No. Far from it- but I am a contender, and I refuse to give up.
#SJMSOM, IIT Bombay #ABGLPWooMe