Part A : Why Aditya Birla Group is BIG in My Life
Germinating in the hallowed times of the nationalist movement and built with purposeful patriotism by the venerable G D Birla, a close associate of the Mahatma, the Aditya Birla Group became a multinational conglomerate under the visionary guidance of Aditya Vikram Birla. The Birla Idea, as it were, has been ably and sleekly carried forward, in this generation, by Kumar Mangalam Birla.
Today, the ABG is a US $44.3 billion, Fortune 500 entity engaged in sectors as diverse as metals and cement, textiles and telecom. It carries Indian adoration within and represents Indian pride without. Short of detailing, this is where and how, the ABG is BIG in my life, in our lives, touching upon our daily existence – pervasively but humbly.
- The adhesive that holds together the masonry of my house or that of the modern, mass-used Bandra-Worli sea-link in Mumbai is an ABG product.
- The tyres of the conveyances carrying me safely to the school, college, so far, or to my future workplace, have nano-plastics from Birla Carbon.
- As an aam Indian, I have relied, for my movement, on India’s biggest carriers, Indian Railways, and they have the bigger share of their copper requirements met from Birla Copper.
- As the 4th largest producers of insulators, Grasim facilitates electricity transmission and makes it safer. I have been, like millions others, a grateful beneficiary.
- As someone belonging to this new generation, staying connected has been an age-induced desire and Vodafone-Idea have let me do that. And when it’s not the connectivity provider, ABG has helped me by being present in my handset through its ubiquitous Hindalco-made cover glasses.
- To be fashion conscious is a frailty associated with the youth. I would stay away from using the word fashion. The way ABG has been BIG in my life is the way in which it has allowed me to dress, to make me presentable. The brands are so numerous and so loved that I need not list them.
- ABG has also been BIG in terms of my reigning dreams: people-focused organisation, ethical employer, encouraging patron for creating leaders and AON’s best employer in India for 2018. It ignites my passion and I would expectantly look forward to the coveted ABG ambience.
Part B : How I Have Overcome Challenges in My Life
I come from a clichéd middle-class family with the typical middle-class ethos, challenges and pride.
The first challenge that I had as a child was to live up to my family’s hopes and expectations from me as a student performer vis-à-vis my more talented elder brother. I coped with it by trying to learn from him [without competing with him] and by trying to find out my core competencies and focusing on them.
Just at the time when I started having dreams, when I was starting to lend my dreams a plan and method, I had episodes of black-out and it was diagnosed as epilepsy. I had one such bout right during my Higher Secondary Exams and I had to forfeit the exam and a precious year. I had auditory problems to make my cup of challenges full. Fear gripped me and despite my attempts to be focused, the medical restrictions and the consequent diffidence impacted my output. I performed far below my potential. That’s the time I decided to:
- Stay calm and ‘let not what I cannot have my cheer of mind destroy’
- Use music [I am a classically trained singer] to anchor me and calm me down
- Go out of the medical restrictions through resilience and discipline and
- Target the immediately achievable while not losing sight of my dreams
I cleared the Commerce Graduation Course, went for a Diploma in Banking and Insurance, and, on clearing the same, I wanted to test myself with the responsibility of a job. While at the job, I kept targeting an MBA in a prestigious institution. Through multi-tasking, I had the rewarding experience of a good learning time with my employers and qualifying for the HR Course with XUB.
In summary, I have coped with challenges in my modest life so far by:
- Trying to identify my strengths while being conscious of my deprivations
- Aligning personal goal-setting to the above
- Striving to be purposeful and disciplined in the pursuit of set goals
- Focusing on the here-and-now and
- Approaching goals in a structured way
I have not seen dawn yet. While reaching for the stars, I may have to stay content with a handful of clouds. But dutiful commitment to process and perseverance will continue to guide me - much the same way as Aditya Birla Group has shown and inspired others to emulate.
#ABGLP #ABG WOO ME -SEASON 2 #XIMB-XAHR