Underdog

Over the years we have heard many stories where Underdogs punched above their weight and did the unthinkable. They achieved what everyone thought was beyond their reach, it was this victory which inspired them to dream for more. For example in June 1983 when India shocked the mighty West Indies to win the World Cup & they became Legends was one such victory of an underdog team.

What makes these stories special and connects us, is because we see our own reflection in them. We relate to their struggle for victory and their effort to achieve it.

I have a similar story which is not of a team or a miracle; it is about an Individual who struggled at every point in his career to showcase what he had. He always got employment either through references by friends or ex bosses and due to this reason people around him thought less of him. Maybe they thought he was not capable of getting the jobs that he did.

He often wondered that if he was not did not have substance then why he was still referred by friends, called by ex-bosses and reached out by people at work. This question always haunted him, and gave him sleepless nights. He always tried to think of an answer but didn’t seem to have one.

Perhaps people wanted him because he never said NO to a Job. He worked tirelessly like a workhorse. He traveled for days without asking any questions. In his previous jobs, he had spent nights sleeping at Airports, Railway Platforms & even at Bus Stands. What kept him going was his love for his work, but due to this he was taken for granted by others.

7th March 2012: Sitting in the office & going through Facebook posts of unwanted people, he suddenly received a call from his Boss. He knew what was about to come, he had anticipated it, and was dreading it. The news was of retrenchment of outsourced trainers. Being an on roll employee, he wasn’t worried about himself but was worried for Dinesh who had joined the company on his reference. Something had to be done, he couldn't just sit & wait for the letter to come. He had experienced a similar situation in the past when his team of 25 trainers whom he called the “Dream Team” had been asked to leave the company due to the whims and fancies of the Management. He was helpless then but now he decided he would not be.

8th March 2012: In the middle of his conversation with Dinesh, his phone rang. The call was from a consultant recruiting for an opening of a Training Manager, in a camera company. Unsure if he should explore the opportunity, and leave the comfort of a known environment, he decided to take the plunge.

9th March 2012, 11 am: After a lot of tussle for parking in the "Millennium City". He was at the reception of the Company asking for the HR recruiter. Dressed in a White Shirt and Black Trouser with some amount of nervousness in his voice & a faint hope of clearing the Interview, he awaited for the HR recruiter to meet him. Within minutes he was called into an interview room which was called “Hope”. He answered all the questions using all the knowledge and confidence that he had. By 11:30 his interview got over and they said they would let him know the result through a call. He felt restless & somehow hoped that he would be called again. He called the consultant to share his interview experience & before he reached his Car, the consultant called him again asking him to appear for the 2nd round of interview on Monday 12th March but in a Business Suit. He was excited, as this was the first time when he was getting an opportunity without any references of friends or acquaintances and that too in an industry which was unknown to him.

He couldn't sleep the entire night on Sunday; he prepared himself for every question that he could think of. No calls to friends or relatives, no waste of time, he really wanted to crack it. This was the first Test of his Life which he was taking without any support.

He woke up early, got ready and had the auspicious "dahi-cheeni" given by his mom which was supposed to get him success in everything. This ritual of the dahi-cheeni had been on for 6 months now however he flunked every time and yet she was hopeful that one day he will taste success.

Monday, 12th March 2012: He reached before time & was waiting in the Car, trying to win over his fears and past prejudices. Finally the watch struck 11 & he was at the reception again. Standing in his black business suit, he felt like Will Smith from “Men in Black” and hoped that he would also end as the hero in the movie.

This time the interview was in a room called “TRUST”, he wondered if the names of the rooms were coincidental to the feelings that he had. The Interview started with National Sales Head, Division Head & HR Recruiter. The confidence was definitely growing as the questions came & went. After 40 minutes, he was asked to wait at the Reception.

With butterflies in his stomach, he felt anxious to know what would be his fate. The feeling was similar to the anxiety experienced while waiting for his board results. Finally the HR recruiter came. He was preparing himself for a NO, something that he had heard many a times, however she informed him that he was selected for the role !!! He was speechless as this was a dream coming true, finally he had been acknowledged and accepted on his own merit.

He went home, sat in the dark corner of his room, waiting anxiously for the appointment letter. He was not going to believe it till he received it. He couldn’t sleep that night and kept sitting in the dark corner of his room waiting for letter. The Letter did not come.

Tuesday, 13th March 2012: He was still waiting for the letter. With each passing hour his hope was fading. A faint feeling of despair was seeping in.

This was not just a Job Letter for him, this was the test of his life, to achieve something on his own. He wanted to scream out to the world that he was worth something. He was still waiting, no food, no phone call, nothing. Just sitting in the darkness & thinking of what to do next. He checked his mail at 9:27 am, there was nothing. He started to lose hope now. He checked his mail again at 9:30 am, 9:33 am, 9:35 am, 9:40 am, 9:45 am & finally at 9:46 am the mail arrived.

His hands were shaking, he wanted to read it but the mailbox was taking an eternity to open. Finally it did, it was a letter of intent. He read it not once but 9 times. It had taken him 9 years of his professional career to finally achieve something on his own. He went over and over the lines which said Congratulations on clearing all the Interview Rounds. The LOI also said please send your acceptance so that we can proceed with the Letter. He sent his acceptance over mail immediately. The letter was still missing. He now waited patiently like a monk. The Letter finally did arrive on 15th March 2012.

With trembling hands he opened the letter. Tears rolled down his cheeks, he hugged the letter and couldn’t stop crying. He yelled but there was pain & regret in that voice. He couldn’t stop his tears and rushed to share the news with the most important person in his life, his Father. His father’s voice kept ringing in his ears saying, Achieve something on your own & then you stand at an equal footing with me.

He went with the Letter to his Father but he couldn't stand toe to toe with him. He couldn't hug him, neither could he take his blessings, he couldn’t feel his father’s hands raised to bless him. He stood in front of his father’s A4 size photograph because it was too late now.

His father’s photograph was at the centre of the wall, adorned with a garland. He felt regret and said in a crumbling voice with tears in his eyes "Daidoo, i know you would be happy to see me with this letter, but I am sorry I reached late. Finally this Underdog achieved something which you would have been proud of" & he kept on crying………..

This was not a Job Letter for him; it was much more than that. This was a homage to his father who always wanted his son to achieve something in his life. As for Dinesh, he was offered the position that was now open in the previous company. Victory had been finally gained and that too on own credibility. The underdog had done it again surprising everyone around him.

The Camera Company where the Underdog got interviewed was CANON & the Underdog is me Vikalp Sharma.