It’s said to be easier to relate to someone if they share a common ground with you, be it a common code of ethics or a relatable challenge in their journey. In my case, ABG’s impetus on vision, passion and determination is the primary reason why it tops the list of establishments that I look up to every time I need inspiration. And such times have been aplenty.
My story....
Trivial and common as it may seem, one of the biggest challenges I had to overcome in my life was an innate fear of failure and low self-esteem. Such a mentality caused me to never venture beyond my comfort zone or take a leadership role, till the age of around 17.
The breaking point in my life came at a summer camp that I attended in 2012. Thrust into the midst of a group of excited teenagers from all over the country, I was pushed to the deep end on the first week of camp itself. Based on my performance in an ideation competition, I was asked to form and head a team to draft and present a project on smart energy management.
I still remember the words of our mentor, who, having caught my stumbling and unconvincing mock presentation, told me: “Child, doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. The world remembers visionaries, go-getters and leaders, not cowards. What do you want to be remembered as?”
Those words set me to introspection. And I realized that as complicated as my problems seemed, the solution was very simple: the realization that the world doesn’t have time to pander to my fears. I had to look at the bigger picture. If I needed to make a mark, I needed to do it now.
That was all the pep-talk I needed. My confidence grew and instead of cowering from my fears, I confronted them. I told myself that it’s always better to at least give a try, come what may, rather than hanging back in the shadows. As they say, “Playing it safe is a no-win game”. Needless to say, I went on to lead my team to victory in the final stage of presenting our idea.
This incident brings to mind a quote by Aditya Vikram Birla, “There is nothing which cannot be achieved, provided you have an open mind, the will, the devotion, the determination, enthusiasm and vision to achieve the seemingly impossible”. Ain’t it relatable?
What impact has ABG made on my life?
Since its inception in 1857, ABG has grown steadily over a plethora of domains, quickly rising to become a household name. Their strong roots and steady development, weathering multiple socio-economic and political changes over more than a century, have taught me one important thing:
the importance of strategy and commitment to excellence. A noteworthy lesson considering the fact that I’m pursuing my masters in one of the premier B-schools of India that emphasises on a very similar set of values.
On a personal front, ABG has been a part of many “firsts” in my life. Ultratech Cements became a part of the first home my family built; my first SIM card was from Idea Cellular (changed my life, pun intended !) ; VanHeusen helped me find my first (and best) formal suit.
On a professional front, the strategic acquisitions and tie-ups made by ABG offer invaluable insights on efficient planning and risk-taking. Be it the bonhomie with the Tatas and AT&T to form Idea Cellular (now Vodafone Idea Limited) or buying North American aluminium product maker Novelis for a whooping $6 million (following the time of the Lehman Brothers crisis), many such decisions were doubted by analysts at the time. Venturing out into the niche industry of fashion with in-house brands like VanHeusen, Allen Solly, etc and acquisitions like Pantaloons, was also bold and visionary.
But, at the end of the day, the success of all these ventures stands testament to the quality and integrity of ABG, traits that command respect in the minds of every consumer.
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