670. The Search Continues

Masilamani had conveyed to the Chairman of the company his decision to to retire as the General Manager of the company. 

In an effort to help the Chairman to appoint a new person as the General Manager, Masilamani was scrutinizing the applications received for the position and shortlisting the candidates.

"This person Bharadwaj looks promising. He has good education and the appropriate experience. I think he will be suitable for the post" said Masilamani.

Chairman Marimuthu quickly browsed through the application and said, "Okay. Call him for an interview. I want you to sit with me and interview the candidate." 

After Bharadwaj was interviewed by Marimuthu and Masilamani, Marimuthu asked Masilamani, "What is your impression about him?"

"My impression is the same as yours" said Masilamani, smiling. 

"It was your ability to know my mind that faciliatated your runing this company all these years, in consonance with my thinking. Your retirement will be a big loss to me" said Marimuthu. "Okay. Let us talk about the candidate. What is your assessment about him?"

"He has worked for ten years in large organizations. He has gained valuable experience. He appears to have performed well. Everything is fine about his job experience. But, after working for ten years, he quit his job and started his own business. The problem started there" said Masilamani.

"Are you suggesting that quitting a job and starting a business is wrong?" asked Marimuthu, smiling.

"You know what I am driving at. I am sure that you have been thinking in the same lines too!" said Masilamani, looking at the Chairman with a significant expression.  

"Okay. Tell me. I would like to hear what you say. The way you put things is always interesting."

"In ten years, Bharadwaj has tried five different businesses. He would start a business, run it for a while and when it didn't click, he would wind it up and start another. This way, he tried five times and after giving up his fifth venture, he began to apply for a job."

"If a particular business doesn't click, what is wrong in winding it up and starting another?"

"Nothing - on the face of it! He might have encountered an obstacle in each of his ventures. But his jumping from one activity to another creates the impression that he has no resolve in carrying out a task he has taken up. His actions do not inspire the confidence in us to entrust the responsible position of managing this company to him."

"Yes. That  is my impression to. Why don't you give up your plan of retiring and continue to work here" asked Marimuthu.

"How can I do it, sir? Just now, we talked about the importance of resolve in executing a plan. Should I not be firm in my resolve to retire? Let us be resolute in our decision to appoint a new person as the General Manager in my place and continue our search for a suitable person to fill the position" said Masilamani, politely, but firmly dismissing the suggestion of the Chairman.

Thirukkural
Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 67
Efficiency in Action

Verse 670 (in Tamil):
enaiththitpam eydhiyak kaNNum vinaiththitpam
vENdArai vENdAdhu ulagu.

Meaning:

The world will not esteem a person who doesn't have the resolve to execute an action, whatever other abilities he may possess. 

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'thEdal thodargiRadhu' by the same author.) 

Verse 671 (Soon)
Verse 669