Food for thought

The other day I ordered a Domino’s pizza and the bill was Rs 285

“Sorry sir, I don’t have change,” said the delivery boy.

I was a bit disgruntled and miffed at him. When the local kirana shop sends change, surely Domino’s should be following a similar common-sense system.Isn’t it?

“It’s ok, you can keep the change,” I told him, as Rs 15 is tiny in front of a large feast pizza which I held in my hands.
About fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang. It was the same boy, with Rs 15 in hand.

“It’s ok!” I said. “I told you to keep the change.”

“No sir,” said the boy.”It’s my duty.”

He went on to relate how grateful he is to work at the pizza place, because all his pocket money comes from this job. While he does go to college, he has to work in order to support himself as well.

This boy may not have many of the advantages that other kids his age have. But I’m sure that in the longer run, he will do very well for himself. Working at Domino’s he is not just earning money, but inculcating values because realizing the importance of money and managing your assets and resources are vital for the youth.
Which will stand him in good stead throughout his life.

But how many students in this country would be willing to work at a Domino’s? You simply won’t find kids from ‘affluent families’ in these jobs.

“Tumhe abhi naukri karne ki koi zaroorat nahin hai, focus on your studies’ – is what the parents say.

And the kids happily nod and accept. (Whether they focus on studies is, of course, a different matter altogether).

Another common refrain from parents is:”Kaam karne ke liye to zindagi padi hai, abhi bachchon ko enjoy karne do.”

And if kids do need to take up a job – just for the experience – let it be a desk job or office job. I mean imagine walking into McDonalds and seeing our Chunnus and Munnus standing behind the counter.Opulent families don’t allow their spoon- fed, ready to burst brats to do such pride threatening exercises.

Log kya kahenge and all that jazz.

Personally, I think that all students would benefit immensely – personally and professionally – if they worked while they studied. But this applies particularly to those who aspire of persuing management courses later in their lives.
Imagine the experience you get working at a Cafe Coffee Day – from operations, to cash flow management to understanding customers.

Rather, most students are looking for ‘internship’ with reputed organisations. Preferably, based in an air- conditioned office and not out there ‘on the field’.

At a G.D. in college I was asked, “How can we make our youth more entrepreneurial?”

And I had to throw the ball back into the oldies court and say,“Stop making life so cushy!”

Loving your children does not mean making them lazy,but giving them a sense of entitlement. Encourage them to work! Even if its working as a delivery- boy. But parents ko kaun samjhaaye….

In the West, kids are told to even fund their own college education. Indian parents will faint at the thought. So, pay the fees, feed and clothe your kids. But must you fund their every whim and fancy beyond that?

I thinks our parents must give us a chance to know the value of money from the very beginning of our adolescence.

Give us the pleasure of earning our next mobile phone.

Let us earn our pocket money even if for a few months.

Because we grow up in a cocoon – a comfort zone – from which many of us never fully break out.

We grow, because it is a biological imperative. But we become moths, blindly attracted to the thoughts and ideas of others.

Start working for yourself – and on yourself. Discover your own power, and the beauty within.

Evolve into a butterfly.

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