Being a part of the consumer market, my perspective towards a brand is beyond the product it has to offer. I, on a personal note, feel the urge to connect with a story before I can make my validated decision to purchase. And in the realm of Storytelling, Aditya Birla Group stands firmly as the flagbearers. Hence, Aditya Birla Group holds utmost importance in my life and this can be demonstrated using its presence in the Retail Industry through Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL).
I could potentially visit any of the ABFRL owned brands in any part of the country to suit my clothing needs. With its presence of more than 7 million sq. ft. of retail space, ABFRL is the largest market share holder of the Indian fashion market with close to 2,500 exclusive ABFRL brand outlets spread across 750+ cities and towns and reaching every sphere of consumer possible. Hence, it is not difficult for a customer like myself to track down and visit an ABFRL owned store. ABFRL owned brands have been an integral part of my journey, making me look presentable in any sort of a situation. If it is a casual lunch meeting, I would depend upon the trendy choices that Forever 21 has to offer. If it is an important business meeting or an interview, a Louis Phillipe suit would create the most ideal impression. And finally, if it is a dinner get together with the closed ones, I would cash in my money for the comfortable, yet elegant clothing that Van Heusen brings to my wardrobe. Whether it is Diwali, Eid, Christmas or Baisakhi, I am one of the 22 million loyalty members of ABFRL that visit Pantaloons for a complete shopping experience.
If we refer to the famous Bollywood dialogue of “Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan” representing Food, Cloth and House, the parameter of Clothing is of no-lesser priority for me. As we say, “Your first impression is your last impression” and ABFRL does guarantee me that proposition. Hence, Aditya Birla Group is big in my life.
Everyone has their own, unique story. However, I believe that mine has been slightly different due to the path that my life has taken through time. Born in a middle-class joint family of 40 members, I was no different than an average Indian child who loved to play Gully Cricket in his leisure time. However, with the sole introduction of Tennis in my life, I have managed to achieve some good things through time. I understood the game rather quickly and adapted to the professional lifestyle that it accompanied. Soon, I emerged as one of the most promising junior players in the nation and the first from my family to have played a sport at an International event. After completing high school, I was awarded full-scholarship in one of the best institutions in the United States of America where I pursued my education in Computer Engineering. I graduated with the honors of Magna Cum Laude and also carved my career path by co-founding a real-tech platform. At present, I am pursuing my MBA degree at Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, one of the most recognized institutions in the country. But if you are thinking that I had a smooth journey all this while, think again.
To be given an opportunity to purse a sport professionally, among 39 other members in the family, was one of the first challenges that I faced. I had to out-perform my cousins and prove my abilities in order to grab the opportunity. The attribute that helped me the most in achieving this was “Competitiveness”. Next came the situation of managing my in-class performance along with the extra-curricular activities. I very well remember those days in the city of Bombay where an auto-rickshaw was an integral part of my daily routine. I would eat my meals, change my clothes as well as complete my homework on my way to the tennis courts, from school, in an auto-rickshaw. The attribute that helped me overcome this challenge was my “Desire” to succeed. Following my journey, I was also the first member in my family to pursue further studies in an overseas country. I realized the importance of the opportunity given to me and the challenges that came along with it. To help overcome these challenges, I ensured “Responsibility” in my character. Post-Graduation, I was faced with the ultimate challenge of finding myself a decent job. After a final round exit with one of the largest chipmakers in the world, I did lose confidence in my abilities. But, only temporarily. “Persistence” is what made me overcome the challenge and helped me form a company, at a young age of 22.
Hence, as you can see, various attributes helped me overcome various challenges in the different stages of my life. But, most importantly, what really defines a person’s ability to overcome challenges is his/her perception towards it. One could look at it as a hurdle in the longer race or could perceive it to be a confined and guarded prison wall. You could either overcome it and proceed ahead in the race or you could make yourself comfortable in your current situation and not face the challenge. Afterall, my core belief states “If you can visualize it, you can achieve it.”
#ABGLP #ABGWOOME #XIMB