663. Why Didn't You Tell Me?

"How long are you going to continue in this job? Will you not try for a better job?"

This was a question often posed to Nandakumar by his friends.

This question came from his mother also.

"You were a bright student when you were studying in the school and the college. I used to feel proud hearing your friends say, 'Nandakumar is the most intelligent student in our class. Those friends have got good jobs in reputed companies. But, you have been working in a small firm for a low salary. And, you have not been trying for a better job. I feel very much disappointed" his mother Tripurasundari would often lament.

"I have been making efforts" Nandakumar would say. 

"I have not seen you attending job interviews!"

"Nowadays, job interviews are held online. I don't have to attend interviews in person."

"If you have been attending interviews, why is that you have still not got a good job?"

"I will get, mom. Be a little patient."

"Bless me, mon. I am going to start my own business" said Nandakumar, touching his mother's feet, in reverence.

"Really! All of a sudden, you are telling me someyhing incredible. Where will you get the money to invest?" asked Tripurasundari. 

"Mom! Even while studying in the college, I developed a process for manufacturing a new product. After getting my degree, I spoke to some reputed businessmen about my proposal. But, they didn't show any interest in it. 

"Then I began to search for a job. When I went for an interview in the firm I am now working, I told the proprietor of the firm about my idea. He was impressed by my presentation. He offered to invest the capital for setting up a unit to manufacture the product developed by me. The proposal was that he would start a company investing the required capital. I would run the company as the Managing Director. I would get a salary plus 30% share in the profit. 

"But he said that before setting up the new company, we should manufacture the product in a small scale and test it in the market. If the consumers accepted the product, then we would set up the new unit. It would take one or two years for this process.  

"So, he suggested that I could be working in his firm for salary and engage myself in setting up a pilot plant to manufacture this product. He told me that in case we didn't succeed, I could go for some other job. 

"Accordingly, for the past one year, I have been working in that firm and engaged myself in setting up a pilot plant to manufacture the product. We successfully set up the plant, manufactured the product and supplied it to a few customers. They are highly satisfied about the product. Therefore, we are now going to set up a new company and manufacture the product in a big scale. Your son has now become the Managing Director!"

"I can't believe my ears, but I feel overwhelmed with joy" said Tripurasundari, hugging her son. "But, why didn't you tell me about this earlier? You have been deceiving me saying that you are working in a small firm for a modest salary" she added, somewhat grudgingly.

"Pardon me, mom! When my friends kept grilling me about my not trying to go for a better job, I found it very difficult to give them a convincing reply. But, I was determined not to speak about my project, till it reached a stage of certainty. If I had told people about my project, they would have advised me to give up this arrangement, get a good job and settle in life. You also would have advised me the same way. I might have yielded to this kind of persuasion, given up the project and taken up a good job. I controlled myself with great difficulty to keep my activity a secret, till I achieved success. It is this approach that enabled me to succeed in implementing my idea and make you happy, by surprising you with my success story" said Nandakumar.  

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 67
Efficiency in Action

Verse 663 (in Tamil):
kadaikkotkach chey thakkadhu ANmai idaikkotkin
eRRA vizhumam tharum.

Meaning:  

Determination in accomplishing a task requires not revealing your plan to others, till the task is completed. If it is announced beforehand, obstacles may arise impeding its completion.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'sollAdhadhu En?' by the same author.) 

Verse 664
Verse 662