Prepare! Prepare!! Prepare!!!

The year was 1992. I had just completed my Company Secretaryship course. I had been busy with my coaching classes for the last 4 years and it was a very enjoyable experience. My father was very happy with my getting a professional qualification because to him, it meant my getting rid of a below dignity job.

In the month of August 1992, i was sitting in the lounge with my father. He was anxiously looking at the entrance gate time and again. I asked him, "Papa! Are you expecting someone?" " No, no! Absolutely nobody", he replied nervously. I felt uncomfortable. Why is he behaving in such a manner?

Then Dr B.G.Sharma appeared. He was retired principal of the biggest college of our town and a very good friend of my father. I welcomed him, offered him a seat and proceeded to leave. I did not want to become a disturbance between two friends. "Sit down, Barkhurdar!", he ordered me in his authoritative voice, " i have come to talk to you only." " Yes, Sir!" i showed my respect. "Sit down." I obeyed. "What do you do these days?" "I teach. I run this coaching class." I pointed my finger at the sign board. "That's okay. But what do you intend to do as a profession?" I was shocked at the sarcasm. "This is my hobby and this is my profession. I enjoy this job and by god's grace, i earn a good amount - much more than a college professor! I want to continue this only." He overlooked my nasty comment as a childish mistake and continued, " Beta. Trust my experience. This is a good job to pursue along with your studies only. Now you are a professional. You must get a respectable job. You must free this room that you have occupied for your so called coaching class. We will play bridge here."

I don't recall the entire conversation but one thing was sure. I was able to understand that it was a stage managed show. My father and Dr Sharma had planned for the evening and i was the target to be brainwashed. And they had done the homework very well. I was informed about a good opening in a nearby city and was convinced to apply for the same. I was excited about this new possibility.

I applied for the job. The position was Asstt Company Secretary. I was very confident of getting the job. A teaching experience of four years had made me overconfident. This is a professional hazard of teaching. As one comes across students most of the time, one tends to think of himself as a superman. Two or three blows are required to teach the realities of life to such creatures. One such blow was waiting for me.

I was called for the interview. I reached the venue before time and began to talk to the people present there. A gentleman there asked me about my background and i told him my entire life story.

When i was asked to enter the interview room, i was slightly overconfident. When i saw the same gentleman sitting at the centre of the three member panel, i was ecstatic. He took out my business card from his pocket and showed to the other members. Then he asked me just one question, "How much do you earn from this?" I told him slightly inflated figures as per my habit and temperament. And then i heard this, " I think you should not waste your precious time here. We won't be paying you this much here initially." " But, sir!" i begged for an opportunity. "Thank you, you may leave now." He was curt and i came out, humbled and broken.

When i reached home, the news of the proceeding was already there. My father was visibly very upset. But he did not ask for any explanation.

I learnt two things from this episode.

One who fails to prepare is preparing for failure. We must try to foresee every situation and decide our role in the same.

You can't give up something that you don't have! First earn something and then you have a chance to choose to have it or not.

And these lessons are universal. They apply to every situation. May it be studies, may it be placements or may it be any competition!