Introducing - FMCG Adventures !

Post a highly idyllic and relaxed lifestyle at B-school, I was brought back to reality when I began my Management Trainee stint with a reputed FMCG company. Lots of incidents happened, most of which seem to be funny now, but were often the cause of a lot of irritation and vexation, and I decided that I would share them with the world in some way or the other.

What follows are brief snippets from my journey so far. I hope to be regular in posting, as I now have my laptop back [:)] and have procured a data card too !

Here goes then...

Scene 01-
0430 hours - Heritage City, Gurgaon - waiting for the taxi to drop us off to the airport, where I have to board the 6:00 am flight to Calcutta -

I am off to face two months of DSE training- the DSE being the "foot soldier" of the company (who sometimes likes to shoot it there too)- so all company "officers" have to walk in his shoes for two months, in order to obtain a grass-roots level understanding of how the business is actually done, and not the way it is taught. But all that comes later...right now, an elderly gentleman comes up to your's truly and says " Are you a pilot ?" ...........

Before I can even comprehend the whys and wherefores of this question, and try to say something that makes sense, he launches into a monologue that tells me of his connections to several known business houses...et cetera et cetera .....and makes me think of that night (www.janusspeak.blogspot.com) on the beach....so I just keep nodding my head to give him the impression of listening, until it is mercifully time to leave !

What a way to start the day ! Whatever happens now will be much better ( or so I hope)


Scene 02-
Calcutta - Same day
10:30 am

Is Mr X in ?
no
Mr.Y?
no
Ms. Z?
no...and oh yea..today is half day - office closes at 2:00pm

Brilliant ! East is East ! Having taken all the trouble to get up at 3:00 am, shave, shower, change into formals et cetera, we find out after reaching the office that we have more than two hours to do precisely that ! The consultant's luck has taken its toll...it is going to be one of those days !


Scene 03 - at some shady bar in Park Street

Q: Do you serve Haywards / Kingfisher ?
A : Only after 8:30 pm sir !

Q: ???!!!!WTF ?? !!!!!
A: yes sir !

Q: Great ! what else do you have ?
A: Dansberg !
(Dutch beer - made in Sikkim, the label tells us !)

Well...bring it on guys...and let the "Dutch" times roll !

So ended the first memorable day of the DSE stint....

More "adventure" adventures to follow shortly !

Until then,
Adios.
- J