A day as a Salesman.....

Hi friends. In this post I’ll be sharing one of my greatest experiences ever.
Have you’ll ever tried marketing. Have you’ll ever tried to sell something?
I tried it. And believe me, life of a salesman is not easy.

Our college had decided to raise funds for two NGOs. So we were conducting a Walkathon event. And we had to sell tickets to raise funds. We were given 20 tickets of Rs.100 each, and one Rs.500 ticket. I had already sold Rs.500 ticket to my hostel friends. Six groups were made in the class. Of 10 students each. And each group had to campaign in an area selected by a lucky dip. Luckily we had to campaign is Malleshwaram, the most happening area in the city.

16th November 2011, 4:15pm,
Soon after our Organisational Behavior ma’am left the class, I packed my bag and ran towards the door. I had almost walked out of the class when I heard someone calling me. It was our group coordinator Rahul.
Rahul: We’ll be going to Mantri Square now.
I just nodded my head and slowly sat next to Ashwini and Veeranna.
Ashwini: Neenu barakatti ala??? Even you are coming right?
Me: Nam group kooda Malleshwaram hontar. Avr joti hogakattini. Even our group is going to Malleshwaram now. I’ll be going with them.
Ashwini: Sari al sigonn. Ok then, we’ll meet there.
Me: Sure.
Veeranna: Don, Obne hogakatti? Naa nin joti barli? Are you going alone, shall I some with you?
Me: Ok. Come.
Rahul: You’ll be near Mantri Square, I’ll join you’ll within 10mins.
Me and Veeranna: Ok….

5:30pm, Mantri Square.
I parked my bike and reached the ground floor of the mall. The mall was not so crowded. We didn’t know how to start campaigning.
I went to the receptionist at the entrance.
Me: Sir, We are from MP Birla Institute of Management. We are here to campaign for an event conducted by our college. It’s for a cause. A cause to help NGOs. (Receptionist was nodding his head.) Should we get Manager’s permission to campaign here?
Receptionist: Yes Sir, Please speak to Mr.Majunath. I can give you his contact number for you.
Me: Oh please.!
Veeranna saved Mr.Manjunath’s number in his cell phone.
We decided to call him as soon as our other friends joined us.
We were standing at the entrance and watching people and planning how to speak to people.
We waited for 20mins, none of our friends came. So we decided to start campaigning.
But How to start?
I was scared of speaking to people. Because there were policeman all around that place. Though they were traffic police, I was scared.
For the next 25 minutes we were just looking at people’s faces, trying to predict Who’ll donate.
Me: Veeranna, Whatever it is, I’ll speak to that person who’s smoking there.
Veeranna: hmmm…
Me: Look he’s wearing an ID card tag also. He might be working in some company. I feel he’ll donate.
Veeranna nodded…
(First person)
Me: (Holding a Walkathon poster) Sir, we are from MP Birla Institute of Management, we are campaigning for an event, I are helping two NGOs, One is Madhava Nele, Shimoga and other one is Nele Niveditha, Mysore-road, Bangalore. The NGOs…..(he stopped me)
First Person: Not interested…
I couldn’t force him. I accepted it as a rejection.
That’s what our principal had advised us. Learn-to-accept-rejection-in-markrting.
But the first person did me a favour. He taught me an important thing. After I spoke to him, I lost the fear of speaking to strangers.
Within a minute I spoke to two other people. Though they didn’t donate anything, I could sense that I had no fear approaching strangers.
(Forth Person – Tie waala)
Me: Veeranna, look at that person, he’s in full formals. With a tie. Lets go to him.
Veeranna: I guess he’ll donate.
Me: Excuse Me Sir!!
Tie-Waala: Hmmm?
Me: Sir, We are from MP Birla Institute of Management, We are raising funds to donate two NGOs in….
Tie-waala: he he he… kannadadalli heli sir, Nanage ashtondu English gotthilla. (Sir, please say in kannada, I donno English)
Me and Veeranna looked at each other and smiled.
Me: Ok Sir, Naavu MP Birla Management college inda bandiddeve. Naavu yeradu NGO ge help maadbeku antha haNa hangraha maadta iddeve. Taavu dhana sahaya madtira?
(I explained in kannada)
Tie-waala: Naanu kooda illi marketing ge bandirodu. Adre ee police namage tondre kodta iddare. Even I am here for marketing. But there Policeman are disturbing us.
Me: Oh ! Is it??
Veeranna: What are you selling?
Tie-waala: (pointing at a big bag on the foot path) I’m selling toys.
Me and Veeranna looked at each other in frustration and helplessness…

I called Ashwini,
Me: Hello, Esht ticket maariddi?? How many tickets did you sell??
Ashwini: I couldn't sell even one. I can'd do this. I'm leaving.
I could hear the frustration in her voice.
Me: OK, Even we couldn't sell a single ticket. We too are leaving now. But, I will come again someday and sell the tickets. I have to sell.
I disconnected the call and left.

That day as a salesman thought me a lot. We often don't speak to salesmen. We usually have the feeling that they are frauds. But we never think of their struggle to sell the product.

That day thought me to accept rejection. It thought me to take failures.

I came back after few days.. I sold tickets this time. I was enjoying it. Believe me, I sold tickets worth Rs.5400/-.... I had learnt the knack of speaking with strangers and convincing them.

First Day @ MPBIM

10 October 2011,

I woke up at 6 AM. I had to ride 16kms to reach my new college. We were informed to be in college by 8:45 AM. So I left my Hostel at 7 AM. I knew it was too early, but I have a good habit of reaching any place before time. But this time I reached there an hour before time. I reached there at 7:45. I didn't know what to do. Just parked my bike and stood alone. Some seniors were tying some banners.

It was only 8:15 when one of the security person came to me.
Security Person: 1st year MBA?
Me: Ya.
Security Person: 2nd floor.
And I smiled at him. I chose not to go by lift. Went to the 2nd floor. Couple of young men were standing at the entrance. Both were well dressed. They were in blazers. They were our seniors. They looked at me.
Seniors: Fresher? (without giving time for me to react) Go to the next room.
I just nodded my head and entered the classroom.

There were just 3 students in the class. I just smiled and sat behind them. I just took out my cell and started fiddling with it.

By the time it was 8:45, the class was half filled. Filled with all unknown people. I was feeling uncomfortable.

Two seniors entered the class with a lady who was wearing a green saree.

Seniors: Friends, this is Padmini Ma'am. (We all stood and wished her.) The next session will be handled by her.
Padmini Madam: Well, before I start the class, everybody please stand up, and pray for a bright future.

There was a big question mark in my head. Class-from-the-first-day????

Padmini Madam: Pray for good education. Not for boyfriends and girlfriends. And such things are not entertained at MPBIM.

I closed my eyes. I didn't pray anything.

Padmini Madam: Well, you'll may open your eyes now. Before I begin the class let me introduce myself first. And you'll will have to introduce yourselves in similar way. You'll will have to add a prefix to your name. A prefix that suits your character and begins with the letter same as your name. Am I clear?
Students(Including Me): Yes ma'am.
Padmini Madam: Hmmmm, I'm Padmini. I would like to call myself Pampered Padmini. I'm married. After completing my MBA, I worked for couple of years in HP and due to some personal reasons I had to quit the job. And from past one year I'm working as a lecturer here.


(to be contd)

India-Australia...

What a match...!!!

The match was swinging both ways throughout the day...

Toss has always been a major factor while playing in subcontinental pitches. Ponting might have smelt victory as soon as he won the toss and elected to bat first. Watson & Haddin gave a solid start. But, Indians struck regularly to keep the game in balance. Superb second spell bowling by Zaheer, economical bowling by Harbhajan, Unpredictable bowling by Ashwin, and Yuvi!!! I've no words.. He's bowling better than any other bowler in this tournament.

They say, "When any batsman is out of form, he isn't scoring runs, make them bat against India." Ponting found his lost form and scored a well deserved, well timed 100.

Chasing 261 on an Indian pitches was not a big deal, But scoring it against the Aussies was the real challenge. There are no words for their commitment. And there are no words for Indian batting line-up either. A solid start by Sachin and Sehwag. Good partnerships between Gambhir-Kohli and Yuvraj-Gambhir in the middle overs. And after series of Gambhir-mixups and Dhoni's irresponsible batting, It was Yuvi and Raina who led India towards the winning mark.

Yuvi, received his 4th man-of-the-match of this worldcup. He's in geat touch. 4 fifties, a 100 and 11 wickets. Indeed a top contender for Man-of-the-series. And I never thought that Raina would be playing any matches in this world cup. He was always a better option compared to Y.Pathan. Raina has loads of experience of playing in Indian pitches. His pull shots and a huge six of Bret Lee over long on were pleasure to watch.

Another highlight of the day was Sachin reaching his 18k runs in ODIs. He is a solar-powered-run-machine.

We had a great match of cricket. Looking at the quality of cricket both the teams played, I think this match had to be the finals of this world cup....

India in quarters...

Well, India isn't through to the quarters yet...
A worst scenario can knock out India before the knockout stage.

Scenario:
Bangladesh should beat SouthAfrica and WestIndies should beat India very badly.

Very badly conditions:
If India bat first: India scores 150, Windies should chase it in 21.3 overs.
India scores 200, Windies should chase it in 21.4 overs.
India scores 250, Windies Should chase it in 22.1 overs.
India scores 300, Windies Should chase it in 22.3 overs.
India scores 350, Windies Should chase it in 23.0 overs.
If Windies bat first: Windies scrore 350, India should be bowled out within 186runs.
Windies scrore 300, India should be bowled out within 139runs.
Windies scrore 250, India should be bowled out within 92runs.
Windies scrore 200, India should be bowled out within 45runs.

These are my calculations.. there might be an error of (+/-)3balls or (+/-)10runs..

Sumne tamashege.....

Click on the pic...