I would like to share some of my life experience, with others.

I graduated in Agriculture from the well-known Allahabad Agricultural Institute, in 1958. I did not gain much academic knowledge in college, but did well in practicals.  I was more interested in sports and games. I was the Captain of Allahabad University and college Basketball teams, was in college football and table tennis teams and was a good athlete. I could not find a job as I failed in interviews, due to my poor knowledge in my field. I managed to get a job in 1959, as a fertilizer salesman in Tamil Nadu for M/s Shaw Wallace & Co Ltd. I did not know much Tamil. I took it as a challenge to learn the language and get knowledge on local cultivation practices, to help me talk to the farmers.  I was promoted as sales executive in 2 years’ time as I was one of the best among nearly 50 salesmen in S.India.

 The job knowledge I learned on the job, on usage of fertilizers, pesticides, animal feeds and spraying equipments, helped me much in my work. I was again promoted and posted as Plantation Sales Executive for South India 1962. On losing my father, I resigned and  opted for a stationary job, as an assistant manager with the Plantation Corporation of Kerala, in1963. This was a tough job of managing violent union (CPM) workers. I managed them with hard work, honesty, fairness and tact. In 1965 I was offered re-employment on attractive terms by S.W & Co. I could work from my Home, with a company vehicle and driver, on consideration that my mother was alone. This was an unprecedented offer, to an executive who resigned from a firm. I was chosen to introduce a new range of power spaying equipments in S.India. Rubber spraying, using Mini Micron Sprayers, was successfully introduced, in association with the Rubber Research Institute in 1966-1967. In recognition of this, I was invited to present papers in 2 international seminars of the Rubber Research Institute of India, held in Kochi and Kottayam. By this time I gained much knowledge on Spraying equipment and Pest control.

On my consent to move to Madras, I was promoted as the head of Plant Protection Department in 1969. In 30 years of my career in SW & Co, I was promoted almost once every 4 years. Others who joined with me were promoted only 2 or 3 times in this period. I had no difficulty to work with large number of people, whom I superseded in my career. I was able to get everyone to work with me whole heartedly. I was also able to get support of all the people holding positions above me. I was sent for many short and long management programs of IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Bangalore, and Admintrative Staff College Hyderabad. After a short assignment as the General Sales Manager for the Agriculture Division, I was assigned as the Advisor for introducing Management By Objectives, in Agri Division. I was given intensive training through external Consultants. This assignment gave me valuable insight to every job position in the Agri Division, spending hours of Job analysis, in the Division. I gained very good rapport with all the executives. After successful completion of this assignment, I was made the Divisional Manager for Agriculture Division in the rank of An Assistant Vice President. All the Production units including the large Basic Pesticide Plant at Haldia, Marketing and Administration of the Division was my responsibility. The R &D with a pilot plant and Haldia pesticide plant, with 4 chemical engineers with PhD were also in my charge. There were many with MBAs, CAs as among 60 managers and executives, about 100 staff and about 700 workers in about 20 locations, in manufacturing and blending units around the country. I was the least qualified Manager in the division. By this time in 1980, the company was one of the 20 largest public limited firms in India. The company owned many Tea Estates, coal mines, gypsum mines, distilleries, breweries, manufacturing units for Glue, Gelatine, Yeast, Pesticides, plant protection equipments, Sulphuric acid, Superphosphate, Animal feeds, Hybrid seeds etc. in different parts of India.

 I want to share my successful management experience with those who aspire to work in organizations.

Key to my success was--

1. Determination 2. Hard work 3. Team work   4. Willingness to accept challenges and 5.Self-Motivation.

Self-Motivation is the most important factor. I believe that money and positions are only short lived motivators. Those who enjoy their work wholeheartedly, like playing a game you enjoy, derive satisfaction and perform better, without any external factors. You must love your job and enjoy your work. A self-motivated person will work hard without any external stimuli like money or positions and will get better results.

Another important ingredient of success is your, man management skills, which leads to Team Work. Your knowledge or skills, alone will not make you perform well in an organization. Everyone working in the organization is an important contributor to your success. You have to relate to everyone in the organization, both below, peers, people directly above you, staff functions and even people in all other divisions (unconnected). Maintain good personal relationship with all within the organisation and even the Industry outside. Many of your personal qualities like your sincerity, empathy, compassion, courage of conviction, honesty, and humility are important traits, which will help gain acceptance and support in achieving results. Give respect to all your contacts and appreciate their good qualities. Everyone has some good qualities and your success is to find and use them. No one can achieve much on your own. Remember that every man is dependent on many others.

Willingness to accept challenges is also an important trait. Remember you may sometimes fail, but you will achieve better results. Aim high and you will reach higher.

Determination is also another key trait to success. Do not give up against pressure or in difficulty. Persist with the task on hand. Explore new possibilities. Do not be afraid to fail, but find new ways to recover.  It is mostly an inborn trait, but can also be learned over a period of time.

 Towards the end of my career I had the unfortunate job of retrenching many executives, as part of a cost reduction drive, when we lost a major contract with Madras Fertilisers. I was successful in persuading many of my senior and junior executives on VRS, without any unpleasant feelings. As a token of my sincerity, I also opted for early retirement at age 55, after desired cost savings was achieved. The all-round goodwill I earned was reflected in company farewells at different locations and a grand farewell from the Pesticide Association at Bombay Oberoi Hotel, for me and my wife, where all the top officials were present from Sandoz, BASF, Nocil, Rallis, BPM, Godrej, UPL, and PIL etc. There was no precedence of any Industry giving a farewell to an Individual from another company.

I want to add a few thoughts which will help us to truly understand our own self. None of us had any choice as to where, when and which family we will be born. There is a divine force, by whichever name you call it, which controls everything in Universe. We have to submit ourselves to this divine force and lead a life in peace with everyone and the nature around us. You should be contended, peaceful and happy in all circumstances. You can learn from the past but cannot change it. Worry will not change the future but careful choices can make things different. Meditate and exercise to keep your mind and body healthy. Indulge in a game or regular physical activity. Cultivate healthy habits. Also find time for some hobby and enough time for your family. During my working life I played Tennis, Table tennis, did regular jogging and walking. I went for a walk even in Delhi in winter mornings while on tour. I continued these activities till I was 80 years. This also helps to build up friendship beyond your work place and keeps you healthy and happy. A wide circle of friends are important in your work and life.

I want to add one more experience in my life, which changed my outlook on life and contributed much to my success. I was a survivor of a Boeing 747 Air Crash on my flight to Delhi. The plane crashed about 15 kms outside the Delhi Airport at around 10 pm 31st May, 1973 and caught fire. Out of 65 passengers and crew only 17 survived, the rest perished at the crash site. I was thrown out with my seat, with the seat belt on. I knew nothing of the crash and woke up 30 minutes later, in a dark place. I knew I survived the crash and had no sense of pain. Next morning I learned at the AIIMS that I had 55% burns, but was supremely confident that I will recover and will not succumb to my injuries. This positive attitude helped me to recover in 60 days’ time. The Company took care of everything including bringing my wife and infant son by next evening. After 15 days I was brought to Madras and left the hospital in another 45 days, after extensive skin grafting. The Company granted me another month of rest. The support of the senior officers of SW & Co, large number of my friends and colleagues, helped me in my fast recovery. My attitude to my life, friends and all others around me changed. This incidence helped me much to develop a kind and compassionate attitude to all, to be contented and happy in my life in any situation. I realised we are placed here on earth, to help others in our life.

 

 

My Memories of Dr.C.A. Thomas.

Way back in 1947 I joined the St Thomas Boarding Home for boys in Keezhillam, a remote village near Moovatupuzha, as a 11 year old child, in the middle school. The next year, Mr.C.A.Thomas joined the school as a new teacher. He was a big made person and as small children, we feared him and also respected him. I do not remember what subjects he taught us. His kind behaviour and concern for us, soon earned our love and affection. The boys were known for their naughty behaviour, the reason for sending them there to reform them. This Boarding Home was reputed for the strict discipline under the Head Master Rev P.C.Cherian. The boys nicknamed Mr.C.A.Thomas as CAT and used to refer to him so behind him, with no malice. Like most teachers he also stayed with us in the Boarding Home. He was the youngest of our teachers and impressed us by his devotion and love to the children.

Many years later in 1993, when I settled down in Tiruvalla, I came to know my old teacher as Dr.C.A. Thomas, a retired professor of Botany. By this time he had completed his Post Graduate and Doctoral studies in UK, worked in UK and Nigeria, teaching in Universities. He had much knowledge about rearing Orchids and Tissue Culture. He had a small laboratory at home to do tissue culture of orchids. I was involved at that time, as an advisor to PL Agrotecnologies, a public limited company, with an interest in importing and selling Orchid plants in Kerala. I approached him to conduct a class on Orchid growing, for the selected clients, at Cochin. He readily agreed and conducted a full day class, free of cost. He was kind enough to continue to interact and give me much advice on Orchid Growing. His willingness to freely share his great knowledge is commendable. His wife was a classmate of my eldest sister (sadly she is no more). I was also involved with him for organising eye donation efforts in Tiruvalla, a few years back. He impressed me as a devoted person, willing to spare time and effort with his unselfish work, for public benefit. I try to keep in touch with him even now in his old age, but not as frequently as earlier. I wish him many more years of quality life. May God Almighty bless Dr.C.A.Thomas..   K.George John.

 I like to share this with everyone, in the hope that they could get some benefit from it. 

 

You may also visit my website:. www: aircrashstoryandviewsbygeorge.com. It may be of some interest to you.

I would appreciate your feedback comments.

K.George John.03/2020.