I had joined my father’s business in Dubai with 2 motives- to assist him in managing the shop and to learn the techniques of business. Some months passed and I became restless as my father was not teaching anything to me. I was asking myself again and again -had I come here to do inferior activities like sweeping the floor and cleaning the tiles etc.? One day I boldly asked him the reason. He thought for a moment and answered me, “Look son! I myself am not a seasoned trader to teach you anything. Besides, I myself have ventured into an unknown field. You have to learn the techniques from a seasoned businessman. I can surely help you with that.”
My father had a lot of acquaintances in Dubai. He talked to one of his friends so I could gain some work experience- and thus I ended up accepting an internship in a super store. To experience all the corners of retail business, I did all sort of jobs and worked in every section of the store. I was enjoying every responsibility assigned to me- except one. I felt nauseated when asked to handle packages containing beef and pork and simply used to reject them. My colleagues would tease me. Eventually the news reached the owner of the store.
One day he called me and asked me the reason for my reluctance. I candidly admitted that being a vegetarian, I felt that touching the meat was a disgusting activity. Hearing this he laughed at me and gave me an important piece of advice by saying, “Young man! I am a staunch Jain vegetarian who abstains from eating even garlic and onions in everyday meals. But this is my business. Here customer’s needs are to be given the highest priority; hence I don’t bring my personal likes and dislikes into my store. Mind well that the work is work only and should not be treated as superior and inferior. Don’t feel ashamed to do any kind of job. Remember that dedication and love towards our duty is the first step of success.”
His words were like an eye-opener and gave me a new insight. The incident also brought the greatest turning point in my life and I realized the importance of toiling hard at any responsibility. Since then I have never hesitated to do any kind of work.
By: Dhananjay Mahadev Datar, CMD, Al Adil Group, UAE Bahrain,Oman Saudi Arabia & India.