Blog@GraceJunction

 
Dear Investors,

As I write for the final time in this newsletter column through which I have led this company for the last half a century, it’s difficult to steer away from that nostalgic feeling. When I was being driven home this morning in my car and as I looked through those tinted glasses, I was reminded looking at the school going children how my mother would give me a hug and my father would place his hands on my head and pray for me, before I left for school. Those were the strong foundations on which I ran this company and led the employees. Ambitions never overtook character.

I have seen this company grow, when I first set it up from a small rented house to this corporate tower. There were days when I had to struggle to get a single client and I would be taking the public transport to meet all the potential clients, in the hope that I would not go back empty handed today. Those were tough days, when I would have to walk the tight rope, balancing between meager budgets and dreams of a better future. Bus tickets pinched, long queues at the bus stand were normal. But those days were much easier compared to the mental stress that I go through these days. When I went back home, there was nothing much to loose my sleep over and I could just relax with my family and friends. But I guess that is the wrong side of success and achievements.

As the company began to flourish slowly, there were increasing pressures from different quarters to bend the rules. Window dressing your balance sheet at the end of the year became par for the course for many businessmen as we grew as an economy and opportunities galore in this land. But I remembered what my parents told me that there were no short cuts to success, but only hard work coupled with integrity. And that is why today you see that we are able to beat the recession blues and once we who were called the conservatives have now become the kings of our market place. Probably the saying that ‘slow and steady wins the race’ has not lost its relevance.

I am extremely thankful for the confidence that you have put in me and the management over the years. This has helped us greatly in taking the companies performance to greater heights and our personal careers have touched the pinnacle. I clearly remember how I was called by the President of India to be awarded for the stupendous performance in business and industry and the greater honors that were bestowed on me by the country and its leaders. But I have always resolved to keep my feet on the ground and never let the success get to my head. Humbleness arising from the knowledge that many of those good years came not just by hard work but also the grace of God, without whom it would have been impossible.

Thanks to God that we never got on to a tiger in the first place like many who did and at the end decided to get off, ended up being eaten up.* Corporate Governance is not taught in management schools and great universities, but I believe that it is put in to you by your creator. I was a steward over the things that he handed to me and I just remained faithful and prepared myself for the day when we all will have to give an account for the things that we did in our lives.

I know this was no corporate letter but I wanted to bid goodbye not mentioning my financial accomplishments but the things that have gone in to making me who I am today. As I enter the twilight zone in my life I want to thank you and all those who have contributed to making of this great brand. And I am sure that you will continue to uphold these principles as we continue to build individuals, families and society which I believe will finally translate in to the building of a great nation.

Chairman.

* “It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten” Ramalinga Raju on the Satyam Scam

Tags: business, company, corporate governance, integrity, Ramalinga Raju

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 11:42 pm and is filed under Economy, Finance & Money, Letters, Navin, Society, Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.