The post was removed by the blogger, as it was personal
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
They never say what they mean
Background: I handled an IPO for one of my clients recently. Five days after the day of IPO closing, it was a public holiday and I was sitting with Aishwarya in my arms. Suddenly the hand phone rang and Aishwarya jumped out of my hands. I cursed the caller and get out of bed. It was my IPO client (GM). He was singing some melody, I tried to figure out what song was that. And then he said, are you listening.
GM (The abbreviation where M sounds like Charu): Vijay, there is an employee who applied for our company shares, his cheque bounced, can you do something?
Me: But its been 5 days that the IPO has closed, I can not take a fresh instrument (bankers love to use this word while talking to the client, in simple words it means a cheque). It will be an audit issue (Audit is one of the words that bankers use, when we don’t know what reason to give to the client) as the instrument number on form will never match with my records. However let me try. I don’t promise anything (if your banker likes you, these words mean don’t worry, I ll do anything)
After lots of back and forth with all the small and big numbers (read ranks / bankers) in the organization I managed to convince lots of people. With a pleasant thought on my mind to impress the new customer and help an employee I called up GM again.
Me: sir, I can do it. but this will delay your listing procedure by two days. Nothing to worry we will still have two days extra to meet guidelines. I hope that should be ok with you. Trust me no banker would have done it for anyone, its purely because of the relationship we share with your company. (talk about selling)
GM: two days, hmmm let me think.
Big banker: I had chat with A, cant we give him MIS tomorrow (i.e. listing as scheduled) and accommodate the cheque as well.
(GM had called him after talking to me.)
Me: nope
BB: I am sure we can
Me: I am telling you we cant.
I got no phone calls or confirmation from GM. After two hours, my door bell rings.
Stranger (S): GM sent me to give u this cheque. Sorry I goofed up but with the help of our GM and you I am sure I will be able to participate in this money making proposition.
Me: (looks like GM has decided in favor of S). Sure sir, I ll be glad to help you.
S left
Call from GM
Before he said hello
Me: sir S came and gave me new cheque. We will do the needful.
GM: listen first, keep this cheque with you till tomorrow afternoon. Call S and tell him you could not do it, coz of some internal problem and that you were sorry for that.
Me: but sir this will make his life, he will make at least 2 lacs on this.
GM: We have our own constraints. Thank you, anyways as no banker would have done it. I did not want you to make an exception and get into unnecessary trouble. I do appreciate the gesture, thank you for everything.
ME: sure sir.
Next day:
Me: sorry sir, I could not do it, auditors did not agree.
E: (broken, shaken, shattered, destroyed like heroshima). Silent
Me: I am really sorry sir.
E: Silent.
Me: I tried my best.
E: silent.
Me: I will send you back the instrument today.
E: I thought I will not have to take loan for my kid’s education, how could you? Is it because I am too small a person to trouble you or pressurize you.
Me: sir I could not help it, and I can understand what you going through.
I was actually sorry, I still am. Not for being in a position where I could not do anything. It was the client’s call and there was no irregulation from my side. I would have gone against the system, had I accommodated this request. I would have spoiled my relationship with registrar but I still wanted to do it. I could not.
I wonder, how insensitive could A get while telling me to take the blame. I am sure he will love me for the rest of his life and will owe me one. He will give me more business, I will have better numbers to show and appreciation from my boss. But I still wanted to do it for the guy who is working as a production manager for my client for last 15 years. I wanted to do it for his kid, who would be an MBA like me and would probably not do what I did today. I wanted to do it for myself, I know how problematic it can get when it comes to financing education. I had almost given up my confirmed MBA seat.
GM (The abbreviation where M sounds like Charu): Vijay, there is an employee who applied for our company shares, his cheque bounced, can you do something?
Me: But its been 5 days that the IPO has closed, I can not take a fresh instrument (bankers love to use this word while talking to the client, in simple words it means a cheque). It will be an audit issue (Audit is one of the words that bankers use, when we don’t know what reason to give to the client) as the instrument number on form will never match with my records. However let me try. I don’t promise anything (if your banker likes you, these words mean don’t worry, I ll do anything)
After lots of back and forth with all the small and big numbers (read ranks / bankers) in the organization I managed to convince lots of people. With a pleasant thought on my mind to impress the new customer and help an employee I called up GM again.
Me: sir, I can do it. but this will delay your listing procedure by two days. Nothing to worry we will still have two days extra to meet guidelines. I hope that should be ok with you. Trust me no banker would have done it for anyone, its purely because of the relationship we share with your company. (talk about selling)
GM: two days, hmmm let me think.
Big banker: I had chat with A, cant we give him MIS tomorrow (i.e. listing as scheduled) and accommodate the cheque as well.
(GM had called him after talking to me.)
Me: nope
BB: I am sure we can
Me: I am telling you we cant.
I got no phone calls or confirmation from GM. After two hours, my door bell rings.
Stranger (S): GM sent me to give u this cheque. Sorry I goofed up but with the help of our GM and you I am sure I will be able to participate in this money making proposition.
Me: (looks like GM has decided in favor of S). Sure sir, I ll be glad to help you.
S left
Call from GM
Before he said hello
Me: sir S came and gave me new cheque. We will do the needful.
GM: listen first, keep this cheque with you till tomorrow afternoon. Call S and tell him you could not do it, coz of some internal problem and that you were sorry for that.
Me: but sir this will make his life, he will make at least 2 lacs on this.
GM: We have our own constraints. Thank you, anyways as no banker would have done it. I did not want you to make an exception and get into unnecessary trouble. I do appreciate the gesture, thank you for everything.
ME: sure sir.
Next day:
Me: sorry sir, I could not do it, auditors did not agree.
E: (broken, shaken, shattered, destroyed like heroshima). Silent
Me: I am really sorry sir.
E: Silent.
Me: I tried my best.
E: silent.
Me: I will send you back the instrument today.
E: I thought I will not have to take loan for my kid’s education, how could you? Is it because I am too small a person to trouble you or pressurize you.
Me: sir I could not help it, and I can understand what you going through.
I was actually sorry, I still am. Not for being in a position where I could not do anything. It was the client’s call and there was no irregulation from my side. I would have gone against the system, had I accommodated this request. I would have spoiled my relationship with registrar but I still wanted to do it. I could not.
I wonder, how insensitive could A get while telling me to take the blame. I am sure he will love me for the rest of his life and will owe me one. He will give me more business, I will have better numbers to show and appreciation from my boss. But I still wanted to do it for the guy who is working as a production manager for my client for last 15 years. I wanted to do it for his kid, who would be an MBA like me and would probably not do what I did today. I wanted to do it for myself, I know how problematic it can get when it comes to financing education. I had almost given up my confirmed MBA seat.
But I will always hate GM, and make him realize how bad can it get when your bank does not like you.
...they never mean what they say
they never say they mean
they only want you to give in
i wish to god that i could meet somebody
that i could just spend
somebody that i could just spend
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