Take what you can digest

It’s only a few who don’t quench for money, and I am no different. It is all to lead that extra special life which is not affordable with the balanced monthly salaries we get from regular work. In a way, it’s just an illusion, but let’s talk about this later.

One such effort’s of mine was the multi-level marketing business. A very minimum initial capital and it was all attractive when I first heard about it on how it can change lives positively.

One of the minimum criteria of this business is to attend the weekly meetings where the newbies are introduced for the very first time. The first one for me went on well, though I started smelling odd at the end, but took it all in goodness. The second one turned out to be half good, and the third one is a mere disappointment. And that’s because of the well-dressed gentleman’s speech on cosmetic products for men and on some medical products.

To pitch for these, he started talking about his friend with whom he met after a very long time. The beginning by itself posted questions like if this is cooked-up. And the story has only continued to prove it.

He compared how young he was to his friend, who was already bald headed, and appeared as though he is in his early 50’s when they are in late 30’s. The mockeries went on for some time, and I was carefully listening all that he had said with one question lingering.

‘Why are his fellow marketing colleagues, standing with him in the stage now, looked bald and looked like they are in the late 40’s. And surprisingly, some said they are at the start of their career. I know they must be using these products, as that is one of the pre-requisites for selling these products.’

I don’t want to ask this question embarrassing the crowd, but had the liberty to ask the person who introduced me to this business and with little hesitation I did it. The hesitation is because he is one of the very senior individuals I have ever met.

And he told me this, “Ok. I understand your question. But do you know something? This naughty world is made up of both good and bad. And believe me, if you are to grow big here or anywhere, take what you can digest and leave the rest”.

At first it hadn’t looked anything big, but munching this for a week and by going back to my old memories when I failed, made me understand the truth. And yes, I am sold.

Why am I sold? Look for one in sometime…

Google, Google, Google - I mean search, search, search - Basic for anyone then and now!

It was sometime in 2011, a product team sync-up meeting, and I was giving updates on the SMS integration solutions I was evaluating for our product. Suddenly a voice turned in - "Sorry to interrupt, why not use ..... (this) solution." And when I looked-up my list of vendors, this was missed. I need to make up and said, "Yep, will add it to my evaluation list" and continued on my updates.

It does looks like a simple incident, but taught me the biggest secret ever - Googling, I mean use Google and start with the simplest of the search. And Googling it, showed me the “this” solution as the first search result. Still looked fuzzy for me, on how did my friend conclude it as the best, just by glancing and judged by its position of search result, when I did 2 full days of research for the best possible solutions. But nevertheless, I missed it.

Seems like a little weird at this time for the post, almost everyone Googles now for anything and everything. But a BIG NO!

Yes, he is a senior colleague and was trying to replace his phone – the old business Blackberry. I suggested a good Android one in the market now which I had – pretty decent at a good cost. And had a good long chat about the phone and thought we were done before I returned to my office, but no. A serious of questions filled my hangouts, does this phone have this, that, and finally ‘Does it supports a mirco or mini sim!’

I felt like err, and said, “Boss, can you please Google this.” Ah! Now I felt for a second, ‘did I say anything wrong?’ but that’s fine I would have done the right thing. And, yes, tons of websites offer enough information about the phone. Probably it’s difficult to find the right review though. And not forgetting to say, he bought the phone.

So the moral, it was my earlier peer colleague who taught me indirectly – I need to Google. Now it is my other colleague who made me write this. And I feel it is a good and the right time to post this.