Imagining life without Aditya Birla Group feels like the very last minutes of “Avengers: Infinity Wars”. For those who have not seen the movie, imagine a life without all the iconic ABG brands. No Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly or Peter England. No Pantaloons. No Grasim. No Freshwrapp. No more More. No Idea, sir jee. Re-imagining memories from such an uncherished past automatically pull my facial muscles into a frown.
It is needless to point out the omnipresence of Aditya Birla Group, as it has always been enriching our lives with quality products. Looking beyond the products, I have enjoyed the interludes of the most nail-biting moments of cricket matches with unforgettable advertisements of Grasim and UltraTech cement - whose themes of self-made efforts, strength and resolve gave a much welcome breather while resonating with the resolve of our players. Even staring at a roll of Freshwrapp makes me reminisce of fond memories of sharing lunch at school. While I always shop for clothes on my own, I can never forget purchasing my first ever suit at a multi-brand outlet. It was during a furlough, and I was spending quality time with my mother in a shopping mall. While we casually strolled through the various sections, my mother caught her eyes on the most handsome three-piece suit. It happened to be a Louis Philippe, and more importantly, it remains my fondest piece of clothing that I bring along with me to every city I go to.
I fondly remember my bachelor days as a fresh-out-of-college software engineer, where I found one of the greatest comforts in life - a More Megastore at hopping distance from my place of residence. Apart from looking dapper at the office, the greatest joy I have had from having a More Megastore nearby was having access to an assortment of fresh catch of sea-food - brought in straight from various corners of our country. Looking back, no single retail brand has made my life easier than More. Having the option of choosing quality products for everything I need, and then some - all under a single roof has helped me save a lot of time after my long work hours. Being a frequent More Megastore shopper, I inadvertently got to learn of the timings of heavy footfalls patterns and long checkout queues. I am not only a smarter shopper, but a more efficient one too - largely due to my shopping experiences at More.
Another experience that truly reshaped my attitude towards life was after my stint as a software developer in Bengaluru when I relocated to NCR in 2018. My typical workday expanded from an average of 8 hours to 11 hours, and I had to ramp myself up in an entirely new domain - from retail to retail analytics. Notwithstanding, I dealt with the ordeal of unlearning and re-learning along with commuting over 140 kilometers every single day - from Greater Noida to Gurugram, and back. My perseverance bore fruit, and I was not only appreciated for my quick learning and contributions in the project, but I was also chosen as a key resource to assist in a top-priority project for the leadership. Finding a balance amidst the physical and mental stress made me realize we are all limited by the excuses and boundaries we set for ourselves.
