Interesting comment made by the “Voice of Reason” to the previous blog entry…
As a leader … at least for me, it is difficult not to “invest” emotionally in my key people.
Irronically, I never understood the cynicism my previous boss had for “staff loyalty,” highlighted by his infamous comment, “we are all best friends…”
I completely understand it now.
This morning - the “Voice of Reason” called my mobile and asked me why I did not put up a new blog entry today - esp. since I had informed him that the festering, stench of garbage had been successfully taken out of our Cape Town office….
I explained that I did not have the inspiration today…..
…..he kicked me in the head and said something that applies brilliantly to the overall theme of this blog ….
“what about doing a blog on all the great people that you have invested both financially, as well as emotionally who have NEVER let you down….the reason naseba exists today is because of them.”
He furthered his point by focusing on Fabien and Nic; G; LT; LP; Ackash; Kavana; Praveen V.A; Terry; Chuck; Jassim; Shavina; PraveenHulk; Mel…. just to name a few of the many key people who make it happen every day and have NEVER let me, nor the company down…. he rightly pointed out that naseba exists today because of them.
Almost as if someone was wispering in my ear … I hung up my call with the “Voice of Reason” to take a call from naseba’s Corporate Controler, Natacha from our Monaco office.
Natacha had just arrived back to the Monaco office today after spending a full week auditing our India office in Bangalore…
Immediately, she spoke excitedly about the “great” management team — Vijay Raj; Charan; Savy; TNS; Kavana; and all the great sales teams — an absolute army … all led by Saleem.
Saleem’s Army (the Bangalore office) is truly exceptional … and I consider Saleem one of the best managers that I have ever worked with.
Natacha even went as far as to say, “all managers in naseba should go to the Bangalore office and witness how great the office is run….it’s a well oiled machine!!!!”
I have been betrayed/let down more times than I can count or remember — and sadly, but certainly I will be betrayed or let down again in the future…
I would be a liar to say it is not a challenge not to let “cynicism” cloud my view of the summit I am after — but it is the great ones that make up for all the let downs.
some people just sit around and talk about what they are going to do… some people even fool others into believing that they are going to do it….
….while others, like Saleem and his army… make it happen every day.
3 Responses to “ode to Saleem and his Army…”
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January 24th, 2008 at 7:58 am
After being in ?Naseba? for a year and a half there?s a lot of things that has changed my life.
In terms of future goals, thought process, personality and a lot many things. I never thought I could be where I am now in such a short span of time and would be given to handle such a huge responsibility. It is such a good feeling that our CEO can so easily be in touch with all the employees all across everyday, though sitting so far. It is so motivating to know that all deserving employees from all different offices get noticed, straight by the CEO.
I don?t think there is any other company that works like ?Naseba? .
Well, all I am trying to say is that, no matter what other people say but I love to work with ?Naseba? and definitely will give 200% to help the company grow and try my best to not let anybody down.
The entire Bangalore office is very proud to be a part of ?Naseba? and though we are not making that much money like our other offices, but we will definitely keep deliver the best of quality and will keep doing better and compete to be the best.
Thanks to Saleem for always supporting us and with the army that we have, definitely, instead of just talking ?we will keep making it happen?.
January 24th, 2008 at 8:18 am
If someone has to leave a reply no one except me has to be right! I have seen Saleem for a long time now. We started to work in a call center and I still remember how proud we were because we thought we got the best salaries and the best of opportunity in life. We sat together selling things right from credit cards to mobile phones to disaster kits to the American market. I still remember how horrific we felt conning people. But we stood chest high always since we thought we were the best sales people in the world. But there were times when I got lost, felt defeated and dejected because I could not handle the pressure and I could not sell. All I had to do is talk to Saleem. The only thing I wondered how is this guy doing it. I used to wait for him to slacken a little bit so I could take the opportunity to beat him. The wait was always in vain.Saleem worked while a lot of us waited. The reason why people like Saleem and Liam succeed in life is because they never fail to motivate. They never cease to believe in what they do. They never give up on their people. They never underestimate the meaning of the word, Success is a choice. I am always proud that I am here with these people, who will not make our lives better, but, will show us how to do it. It doesn?t matter from whom you learn, what matters is what you learn. If I know why the best is here then I would say kudos to Saleem, Liam and our army here! Before I remember a verse from the Bible, I am older than the both of them & if I sat back thinking there is nothing to learn from these two then I would have failed! So the verse says, Go to ant thou sluggard, and learn wisdom from it!
January 24th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
As Nic used to say it best ? A deal today and not tomorrow?
?The way to learn to do things is to just do it. The way to sell is pick up the phone and get on with it. Just f? sell?Success teaches how to succeed. Begin with the determination to succeed, and the work is half done already.?
Saleem was the top salesman when we use to compete, closing deals ?? closing events in a month?.and on top of the game, never leaning on his past success’s but looking forward to setting new records, and having that drive to being successful. I have to admit I envied him.
?Life’s real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up.?
Successful people breed success
Keep making it happen Saleem and team bangalore