subject: Struggles make the Success taste sweeter [print this page] Struggles make the Success taste sweeter Struggles make the Success taste sweeter
Hi there,
Am back after a long time indeed!! Today happens to be weekend and the first day am at home spending that much needed space and time with myself.
Last Sunday, took in-laws' and fianc for lunch out. Today just returned from a mall. Had taken out my family and fianc for lunch at the Golden Chariot. My fianc got back to his office while I roamed around with fly at gaming station and just drove my gorgeous Xylo back home.
Since last week there are celebrations going on - eat out, shopping, go for movies. I got all lovely gifts from family, fianc, in-laws and aunts. Why??????
Coz after the two years of battle, victory came my way. After deciding in 2008 to let go of past and start life afresh, build on a successful career, turnaround myself, thanks to the excellent advise of my colleague - Sumesh and strong support of family I enrolled in ICFAI for 2 and half year MBA programme. The class started in Jan 2007 and was scheduled to end in August 2011. I had then decided that I would specialize in HR.
Time passed by and at work my Angels grew and guided me all along so much so that I decided to change my specialization to marketing coz I had a flare for it. Thanks to my boss for taking out hours together, nurturing me, letting me know where my passion was.
I met my fianc and he too joined along with my in-laws to push me ahead in life. By end of 2010, I was almost fed up with MBA quarterly exams, travelling for work, mounting work pressure, adding responsibilities and all. But everyone stood behind me and just said that's it, come on!!! You have almost done it gal!!!.
Completely tired of my schedule I thought of combining two groups of Exams in Oct and Jan and with grace of God and support of all my angels I cleared them all. Thus I saved 6 months.
Last year and this year has been extra special. God is in a mood to give me whatever my heart desire without even me uttering a single word in prayer. Last year I got rid of my 11 year old dirty ugly spectacles. -4.5 numbers was gone with the Lasik surgery that I underwent. Wow!! World is since then such a beautiful happy place to be in and am like a free bird. Best gift of last year was me meeting my fianc. He is beyond even what I could ever imagine my life partner to be and am so happy and feel so blessed, secured, loved, cared, pampered, motivated with him by my side.
This year started with the kick off meetings and the usual. Valentine Day was extra special this year coz of 3 reasons: Very obvious 1st reason was my fianc and I had a blast this year. We made it really special. I had got same T-shirts for both so we looked like an identical twin which was so cute. 2nd reason was my appraisal and career competency review was scheduled for 14th where my boss said I was the best of all the team members working for him. He was very happy with my work and completely bowled me over by giving me 5 out of 5 in my appraisal. I was about to shout and jump in front of him but somehow controlled myself. Not only this, based on our discussion since last 6 months. I got a jump up 2 grades and now am honored with the title Marketing Development Manager and Sales Excellence. This was like the icing and cherry on the cake. 3rd and the most beautiful reason was again my fianc and I had a lovely candle lite dinner which made it a perfect ending for all dreams come true day.
Just about 2 days later on 16th Feb, we (my fianc and I met) and were sipping our usual cold coffee with ice-cream at caf coffee day when I got the sms results were out. Though I was confident my papers went very well I got butterflies in my stomach. He logged in my account, checked the results and with a sad face said. Shuts I can't believe this, nodding his head, creating a perfect sad dramatic atmosphere, he said "My gal you have cleared it". My God!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought of screaming aloud, jumping on the couches and dancing all my way to my home but somehow didn't do anything of that sort. Just gave a smile which almost stretched from one ear to the other.
Today when I look back, my God!!! What a beautiful way I have travelled in life. A very happy and fortunate child, growing years went as if I was Princess Cinderella. I started working just 28 days after my final year exams. Needless to say I was on tour for first 15 days much needed and deserved vacation after slogging like a dog for almost a year studying. Within the balance 13 days from the day of my return to my first day of job, I built up my resume, appeared for interviews in 3 companies, finished 2 rounds interviews in my first company and started my D day first day into the working adults group on 28th April 2003.
I met Sanjeev one of my angels there who taught me all about xl, mails, fun at work. My first boss instilled the discipline and systematic way of working. I started enjoying work and taking on responsibilities. Within a year I got two promotions. Two and a half years passed and on my brother's advice (he has been my God father taking major decisions as regards academics in my life) jumped to another Company. Here again in a year I got promotion so was very happy. Here my lady boss was very polished, systematic. I groomed myself under her, learnt about marketing, events, marketing research. But somehow my Boss, who promised me a dream career, training and mentoring, got promoted and shifted base to Chennai. Feeling helpless and not wanting to succumb to take whatever was left behind and offered, I started looking out. Thus after 2 years at 2nd workplace I jumped to this dream organization a French MNC where I had an Australian boss. My God!!! This guy was sweetest of all. Luckily for me, every boss has been better than the earlier one and encouraged me and pulled me up the corporate ladder.
Thank you God I don't think you love and pamper anyone else so much as much as you love me. 2 years with this Australian gentleman were fantastic. We worked wonders together and then my current boss came my way and I started assisting two bosses. While the Australian boss returned to his home town after his contract got over, I moved to another BU with my current boss who actually nurtured me like a baby, scolded me where I was wrong, got my commitment to improve myself where I needed to be.
Result today almost 8 years down the line; I am holding a much envied position of Marketing Development Manager with MBA crown shimmering on my head.
What a beautiful life I have had so far!!! From a little girl who was known as born with a silver spoon to having toured almost entire India and almost half of the world at 28 (mind you I don't belong to an inherently rich family, my parents have struggled at every step and grown in life) to putting baby steps and growing all through these years, making all my Angels proud with shining eyes backing me with all their love and support saying You did it my girl, inspite of all odds.
Success would not have been so charming without all the struggles. When you actually burn your blood, sacrifice things, break within but manage to wear a smile and bounce back with a brave heart and a firm mind believing in yourself, you earn much more love, respect, admiration and support.
I would love to sign off with a mention to my 3 favorite sayings that adds beauty to my workstation:
"The greatest pleasure in Life is doing something that people say you cannot do"
"Do what you want to do, say what you feel, be who you are coz those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"
"It doesn't matter
What others think of you or how others perceive you on
What you have done, what you are doing and what you are going to do.
What alone matters is what you think about it"
What beautiful statements!!! Wow!!!! I just love these. Kicks me back into a power packed mode :-)
