Part A – Why Aditya Birla Group is big in my life
Aditya Birla Group, the century-old conglomerate can easily be crowned the first global company of India. The flagship company Grasim, established in post-independence India in 1947, was one of the first Indian businesses to set up international operations. The group had a revenue of approximately US$44.3 billion in the year 2018. It is the third-largest Indian private sector conglomerate. It provides employment to over 120,000 people belonging to 42 nationalities. The group is not just focused on generating revenues for its stakeholders but also affirms that it delivers its share of community service. Its contribution in the areas of health-care, education, girl child, sustainable livelihood, women empowerment & infrastructure is immense. The group’s various initiatives have changed the lives of millions of people in our country.
Personally, for me, ABG has been more than just another company but rather it has given me some most important life lessons.
First & foremost during my engineering, as part of my curriculum, I went to a field visit to Aditya Cement Works, Chittorgarh. It was my first ever visit to a factory. I was overwhelmed to see such advanced technology, the standard operating procedures & most importantly a healthy and safe work environment for all of the employees & other stakeholders alike.
My second encounter was during my college placements. It is said that Your first impression is created before you utter your first word. We all know how it is very important to look sharp in the job interview. For my first job interview, I wore a blazer & formal shirt pant from Allen Solly. Wearing that attire gave me a sense of confidence & eventually the job as well. After receiving my first paycheque I was advised to invest in mutual funds for long term capital growth. After researching about several mutual funds I zeroed in on Aditya Birla Sun Life Tax Relief 96. As it was one of the best performing ELSS fund. It was my first step towards my financial security.
I believe all core values of the organization i.e. integrity, commitment, passion, seamlessness, and speed reflect in ABG’s products & services. The group's reigns are in hands of a leader like Kumar Mangalam Birla whose persistence, instinct & ability to disrupt old notions is second to none. I am sure with such values & strong leadership the company will continue to affect our lives in a good way.
Part B – How I overcame challenges to achieve my ambitions in life.
When I was 14, I went to boarding school. It took me long to fit in at the boarding school. I was a timid boy lacking self-confidence. The initial phase was quite challenging for me. Not only I was homesick but also I was bullied by seniors. I felt like a loser and found myself helpless during those days of my life. As soon as those seniors stepped into my dormitory, I used to go find a hiding spot and hide. I had no guts to face them. There were so many nights when I thought of quitting and going back home. At the same time, I desperately wanted to speak up and take a stand for myself but I just couldn't, I was too scared. Time passed and I understood that hiding won’t help. I decided to start facing them from the front. I was too young when all this was happening to and around me but somewhere my intuition compelled me to take a stand for myself. And that is why this incident holds a lot of importance in my life. I told myself that things are not going to continue this way anymore. And so, I started getting hold of the place and the people. I started taking control. And obviously, things became easier. I could overcome my fear and those dormitory memories are nothing less than a treasure for me.
Today when I look back at my boarding school life, I am able to see the leap of faith that I have taken, and that has made me who I am today. I learned one life lesson at a very early stage and that is; you need patience and perseverance to overcome an uncomfortable situation and it’s always better to face such situations from the front. This learning has stayed with me ever since.
Even today situations arise quite often. There is a lot of competition and everyone wants to win the race. There are times when one can get intimidated and can feel like taking a step back. But that early life lesson has taught me to hold on and take a stand for myself and my dreams today. I am an aggressive player when it comes to work, I put in all I have, contrary to the timid boy with a lack of confidence.
