I Trust Chefs; Not Bankers!
In early December I received a call from my old client turned friend. Aditya (name changed) is MD of an investment-banking firm and was earlier heading a bank. Over the years, I have worked with Aditya as an Executive-Coach and Management-Consultant. Over the past 9-Years of working together, we formed a robust friendship founded on mutual trust and respect.
Aditya sounded disturbed and asked me if I could fly down to Bombay since he wanted to discuss a pressing concern. I asked to speak over the phone. He said NO. I informed him I was scheduled for Bombay the coming week and we decided to meet then. I was anxious through the week and finally met him for dinner at Taj Lands' End.
We ordered our poisons and hors d'oeuvre and started with small-talk. I listened patiently waiting to know the pressing concern. After 30-minutes I asked him, "what did you want to discuss?" He sipped his single-malt, took a deep-breath and said "I want you to counsel Aman (name-changed)." Aman is his 16-year old son. I said "OK what's the concern". He took another sip and stayed silent. I was anxious, wondering if Aman was struggling with student challenges like depression, drug-abuse or deep-pressure. I was worried.
After chatting mindlessly for another 15-minutes, Aditya said to me "I want you to knock sense into that idiot who wants to train as a chef to become a bloody-bawarchi". I exhaled a sigh of relief and was silent. After some moments of deafening silence Aditya asked me "You have nothing to say". I said "hold on let me order another Rum". After ordering, I whispered aloud "I am deliberating who needs counselling, Aman or YOU?"
"Stop joking" he said "I am seeking serious advice." I replied "Aditya, may I speak my heart with assurance that you will take all I say with a pinch of salt and a grain of humour?". He said "Yes, I always expect straight-talk from you"
I continued "Just because your elder son went to Harvard and is now a banker does not mean your younger one should do the same. We have been eating here, without once checking what the chef is doing inside. Frankly I trust chefs more than all the financial-schemes and mutual-funds you bankers sell. I am skeptical and cynical about the character and competence of bankers (this conversation was a few days before the PNB, ShikhaSharma and ChandaKochhar scam-exposes), who are mostly responsible for the trust-deficit and recession in our world today.
On a lighter note I asked "Have you heard of GordonRamsay?". He said "That Celebrity!". I responded "Not celebrity, but a chef-entrepreneur worth USD600mn. I am sure you know SanjeevKapoor. Even he is worth USD150mn." I further joked "Both of them can appoint you as their accountant and financial consultant". We both laughed and he saw the light.
#IdeasForAction - In the corporate-sector there are many qualified graduates (even PHDS) from vernacular mediums, who work as peons, drivers, toilet-cleaners etc. No one recognizes their potential. Never look down on any person or profession. Practice dignity of labour. That will help you to encourage your children to unleash potential and pursue their passion and may also make you a better leader who helps unleash potential.
