End Of An Era

I resigned today from my present organisation. After 7 years, 4 months and exactly 21 days.

The End Of An Era which started on 01-01-01, the day I had joined this bank.

Even though i had worked for a short span of 6 months elsewhere, i will always consider this place as my first school, my first guru - it gave me my first taste of success and failure, my first encounters with stress and tension, the unforgettable opportunity of becoming a branch manager at the age of 26. It gave me my best friends and no - i dont think i made any enemies, even though i ruffled quite a few feathers.

There are many many memories - of each and every promotion, each and every award, each and every scolding from my boss, of celebrating over good ratings and crying with colleagues over bad ones, of chasing targets and nurturing staff, of enjoying with colleagues on a cruise, the same colleagues with whom i would compete, at any cost, on the following day.

This place taught me that hard work is always rewarded. That no one remains on the top or the bottom forever. That your perception of yourself is at most times different from others' perception of you. That it's very easy to achieve as an individual but very tough as a leader, when others' performance determines your success. That's its not an easy feeling knowing you are responsible for your subordinates' careers. That cut throat competitiveness is ok, being cunning and scheming is ok, but not at the cost of ethics and integrity. That this world is not fair and complaining about it does not make it any fairer.

And today as i say goodbye to all these years, these great memories, these great learnings, i ask myself what was the one main principle i followed all these years. And i know what it was - something which my ex branch manager sent me as a 'thought for the day'

"You are free to choose, but the choices you make today will determine what you will have, be, and do in the tomorrow of your life"