As a conclusion, I would like to thank all my gurus, the people who have trained me in various subjects, my ex-employees, my present employees and my parents for all the support and blessings they have showered on me in bringing dramatic changes to Choice. A change I anticipated a change that I was dreaming of It happened.
As my company starts to generate higher profits which I expect to maintain, it shall be my endeavor and desire to work with the underprivileged and show them a lifestyle that would be close to many of the white-collar and blue-collar workforce in this country. I don’t think any Government gives the labor class concessions on food, medicine, and education. Everyone pays the same, be it the rich or the poor. At times I wonder how some of the poor make a living with the paltry wages Choice pays them. You may wonder why I did not take this initiative in the past. It is only because I could not afford it. Today, when I have this opportunity I am going to do it because I want to see a total upliftment of the Choice family, of my employees that consist close to 1300 in number, to see their families and their children grow up and improve their lifestyle where Choice shall be the catalyst for their future.
We have faced various international audits in terms of labor compliance and the Act that protects the interest of the laborer. However, I feel it is not enough. I know the living conditions and what it costs to raise a family today. I am fully conscious of this and as I go into celebrating Choice Day along with my employees, this is a new commitment that I make to myself: the betterment of the so called underprivileged of my organization (where some organizations treat them as workers).
I have seen the aftermath of the unexpected storms that have hit me many times and that fear factor hovers over me. Here I am working on consolidating my organization and making it run professionally by my people in whom I am going to repose a lot of trust and confidence. After some stage in your business life, the word consolidation becomes the language. The word growth is another aspect of the business. My intention is to grow this organization and take it to a level where I should be able to contribute more to society and to the country I live in. I am certainly going to work towards bringing in new initiatives to change the lifestyle of my employees and lift their aspirations as well. There are many people probably close to 900 who work in Choice Group and who may not be happy with what they are making today because that is the situation they are in and they are called the working laborers. I would not like to differentiate between people by classifying them as Vice Presidents or workers/laborers. I would like to view all of them alike.
Today is the day when I make new resolutions and I have done so. You may like to know what my resolutions are for this coming year. Besides continuing to enjoy the power of financial freedom, I would like to take a different view of my business. To start the process of empowering my senior employees and monitoring their process of delegation down the line, I would like to bring in more compliance, plugging every hole if there are any by bringing in control systems and thereby securing my ship, CHOICE to weather any unexpected storm.
To me the past one year has been one of my most successful years, bringing a lot more maturity into my life and a sense of accomplishment. My business grew multiple fold, profits soared, problems settled thank God it happened!! I had always longed for that day when my company would finally become debt free. Free from those debts which I feared, free from those creditors whom I had to face with courage and conviction. I have been able to put all this behind because I was so consistent and persistent in attacking the problems I was surrounded with. Even though I had every one stand by me, it was not that comfortable. Even though my bankers were quite considerate they never had a feeling of comfort and they used to bring up painful points in different departments of our financial parameters. Every lender looks at ratios. Loans are linked to ratios and are capital driven. For so many years I had been working towards that day when I would at last be financially free. Friends, I have achieved this. I am sharing this with you because I just want to convey something to you this day. Everything is possible as long as we stay committed and focused without falling into the traps that our doubts and fears create for us.
As the sun rose today, the 16th of July, I visited the cemetery where my parents are laid to rest. I always make it a point to go there on this day to have a conversation with my parents, especially with my father who handed over to me the mantle of running Choice. Every year when I go to see him, I have had unanswered questions especially related to my business and Choice’s business progress. All of you know my life was more on the thorny side and there was nothing exciting I could convey to him. However, this year I am very confident that he will be happy because he knows what I have done and what Choice has accomplished.
As I write this blog on this day, when all my employees are going through the momentum and heat of getting ready to take part in the Choice Day celebrations, I always make it a point to go back into my life the journey that I began with the hope of what I wanted to be at the start of the 37 years of my career.
Today is July 16th, The Choice Day. I wonder how one more year has flown through my life. July 16th is a day of major reconciliation for me. I give a lot of importance to this day because it is on this day that I really got an opportunity to get back to my business life. It is the day I was born on my birthday.