Life in Kolkata- 3 – The Godfather

There were numerous times when I have had to use the concepts that were expounded in the Godfather. Remember I said that I was looking forward to being a Godfather in my job. That I would have my own family and that I would have a Toffee Business just like the Godfather’s Olive oil business. Well that is what I have now.

Sales is really a people management business. You have to deal with people, their issues, their hopes and aspirations and then make them work as you want them to work. It is all like an organized crime unit. You have people working under you who have people working under them. It is an unwritten rule not to break the hierarchy. I have very small contact with the people who are my subordinates subordinate, but the times that I do, makes my subordinate make sure that he is doing his job right. Each man profits from the better output of the people below him so each man makes his people’s lives his concern. He has to make sure that they are happy and loyal to the cause. They make money then the boss makes money. It is that simple.

“Manage their expectations”, “Be careful how you say no”….these are some of the things that you have to take care of. A knowing glance tells the junior that his senior is on to him. A raised eyebrow tells him that his demeanor is under criticism. A few questions on the regular matter, with the senior not making eye contact tells the junior that he is in disfavor. It’s amazing. I sometimes even make the cold smile gesture. This is where the lips smile but the eyes don’t. Straight out of the Godfather. Trust me it works like a charm. The person immediately tries to find out what is wrong or starts to give the explanations or making the right sounds.

I sometimes feel….no I get the feeling all the time that the job is changing me. I don’t make funny faces any more. My jokes are wittier and less slapstick. I seem to have the term “Dignity” and “Grace” on my mind rather frequently. And I tolerate less nonsense. Can’t say I like all of this. It is new and I liked the old me. I think he was more harmless and true. This new guy is the sort that is nice and amiable but gives ample signs that you better not cross him. He has that edge to him. To his voice, to his expressions to his everything. No I am not sure I completely like this new me. What I think I need is balance. Or else I will become my job and that is not what I am going to let happen. I am me and I stay me. Period.

Well that’s that for the time being. Will keep you guys posted.

Bye for now…

tata

Kolkata 2- Chess, Babes and the Weather

Hiya folks,

The second installment of the Kolkata chronicles. Life has been going well and the job is getting more interesting. I will soon be heading an entire area all on my own. I will be incharge of the distribution and the distributer handling of the area. But this post is not about that. This is about Chess, Babes and the weather...

Chess

I have never been a big fan of the game. The play needs patience that I lack and then there is sitting in one place for a very long time that just isn't my thing. But things really changed when I cam to Kolkata. Here I was wandering the streets asking myself how to pass the time when I see this group of people playing chess. Now playing the royal game is no crime but when you play it sitting under the flyover, stooping over old worn out chess boards and mixed and mutilated pieces....it makes quite a heady cocktail. And the characters were interesting too. They ranged from small time shop keapers to local politicians, the friendly neighbour hood panwall to the reigning top 3 West Bengal grandmasters. They were all there. I have also made a couple of good friends there. I think I have started having a life here finally. More on that later....becasue I think there will be more to say on the matter....

Babes

I think I have mentioned it before that the babes in this town are awsome. They are all beautiful and all bengali....what more could a man ask for. Yes I am finding it difficult to approach them coz well...you don't just accost a person on the street and ask for their number. But I think the matter can be sloved my my two new friends. They have pals who will then have pals and I think I can cook up something from there. I has alll gone so well till now....why leave hope!

There are the cute ones and then there are the smoking hot ones. I have to travel all around the city for my job so I get to see all the goodies all around the city. Some of them would make the punjabi gals of Delhi look demure. With selvete figures and body hugging clothes....these are the forward thinking women that make Kolkata worth living in with all the pollution and stuff. And let me tell you...its not really the clothes. They might hug the body but are not revealing...its just that some of these beauties have the eyes and smiles that make you stop regretting that you don't live in the times of the Hepburns and Garbos. And when one of them slips one of those delicious smiles your way....What can I say...It sure makes my day. A city of beautiful women. There is nothing vulgur about them. God made them beautiful....not their fault now is it?

The weather

With all things good there are the bad eggs that you have to suffer in life's breakfast table. And that bad egg is the weather. It is humid as hell. You feel like you are walking and breathing through glue. I have wade my way through the air like I am in a swimming pool for the first time. And then there is the shitty bus. Or should I say the swaety bus. I will really spoil the mood if I say more. But that and the pollution are the only thing that make life a little difficult in this land of my ancenstors. But I have my fingers crossed and hopes are up like anything...!!!

Till later then good folks ...

tata

Life in Kolkata – 1 – The Beginning.

There was so much that I wanted to say but I had no net connection then. Things here have been a mix of good and bad but much better than worse. Remember the thing I said about the “Secret”. That thinking positive can make a difference. Well guess what it did. And I will tell you how.

It all worked out. Even the Godfather thing. I got to try out the Godfather techs as well. It was crazy. But they will all come one by one. Will tell all. I think I will write one blog post in one day. That way I should be able to complete all that I want to say.

To start at the beginning, I landed in Kolkata at about 8:15 AM. The minute I landed I knew that the air was a whole lot thicker than in Delhi and that sweating would be a serious problem. I took a taxi to the Kolkata East branch office. This is where the fun begins. I land in front of this popular office complex where the office is supposed to be and the guard tells me that the office has moved. !!!!!!!!!!!

I am in sweltering heat with a carry suitcase, a handbag and a backpack and this fellow tells me that the office is not there. Where then is it? He does not know.

So here is where the magic of the “Secret” starts to work. I could have beaten myself over it or gotten angry at the Head office for not letting me on the right address. But I took the other way round. I decided to avoid letting the bad things come to my mind. That is what the “Secret” says. I had to lug my luggage for some time but I reached the office. This is where all started going north. My trainer was great and the office people seemed all nice.

The same thing happened in the evening. I had to get to this hotel in some part of town that I no idea about. And just when I was thinking that I was in a fix, 3 girls helped me. Can you believe that? 8:30 PM in the streets and 3 girls agree to hold on to my luggage so that I can sit in front with the autowala and travel. In Kolkata there are no meter autos. Only shared shuttles. Then not only did they help me there but even helped me into a crowded bus.

I mean everything was working like the universe was actually conspiring to make things work for me. It seemed that I had some guardian angel working for me. And this was just the beginning. There are so many other things that happended that made me think that the “Secret” thing really works. But all that in the next post. Till then.

Tata.