Business Plans that dont take off!

In these past 15 years I have helped several plans happen.
Have rebuilt them,defined them,refined them, to the extent they deserved or may be more out of inherent kindness in the beginning.
Not off late.
As I came out of the IAF as an Officer and a Gentleman and always thought that the other party is truthful too,trustworthy,well meaning, humane.
In 9 out of 10 cases none were.
They used me...as I allowed myself to be used.
No more.

Commitment,Passion,Integrity,Loyalty,Discipline,Moral Responsibility,Mission,Vision,Leadership,etc all of them advocated to have had taken care of all of that in principle...but to my chagrin none ever did.
They were meager words used to show case the window of opportunity offered to me to set them either right and/or upright thanks to my organizational exposure,experience etc.
Not to forget the best training/honing in the world as a Leader.
As a Combat Pilot.
A living working example of the Plan,Brief, Execute,Debrief, WIN! approach, that makes us what we are all over the world.
True well meaning executioners,situational leaders, and gentlemen who know how to command respect and never demand it.
Men who hire the right stuff, and groom to bloom them in times to come,as the best stuff.
Through devotion.passion,compassion.

Commitment,Passion,Integrity,Loyalty,Discipline,Moral Responsibility,Mission,Vision,Leadership,etc to me now, when I get look back, I kind of realize that those words were akin to bedecked mannequins posted on windows of retail shops to attract vary/unwary customers.
In true line and spirit of the ever famous selling adage...whatever is seen is sold.

One of my initial blogs below talks about values.
The importance I attach and attached to that set of human trait was spelt out over there.
In the end I always focus on values and never to monetary gains.

But Corporate world is all about money...minus values.
Thats for certain.
So I guess I am trying to fit squares into circles.
In vain.
As its all about gain gain gain...and inherent human pain.
My attempts to build in values into the business plan always went waste.
As the owner(s) was/were always in a haste.
To taste...money...money...money....nothing else.

As...non of the entrepreneurs: whether first generation or second generation valued values so far.
In the end all of them did use the word or words "we are businessmen...or this is business".

Their business! for sure when it recovers....recovered thanks to my efforts.
Your business! when I got invited...incited...into it.
Our business!...in the in between phases.
Ironically speaking.

That pattern and those words became my milestones to watch and ward for what would come next.
In other words I got partially corporatized too.
Only to that extent.
So that I would not get to repeat the mistakes in the past and make millionaires out of them for peanuts.
No more.

I would rather live a paltry life than give in to capitalism as such.
In the recent times we have seen the end result of that USA is reeling under recession.
Thanks to the managers...who I aptly call damagers... who get to manage companies and hold key posts either due to their personal relationships with the owners,friendship, or fancy MBA degrees.
Ideally termed as Hench men of the short sighted CEOs and Managing Directors alias Damaging Directors.
These MD's and CEO's use every rule in the book to flaunt their incomes,lifestyles, from the companies funds as they get to control it.
They always get to remark ...look I pay you more than I take home.
Kids would swallow that pill...not me, ever.
As perks they carry forward bills for any thing and every thing into the company accounts.

Do they ever dirty their hands themselves?...No never.
They dont have to too...No, as they are pedestalized.
As though its their birthright.
Do they reward and recognize intelligence...No never.
As they are scared stiff of loosing everything to that guy if he rises up.

Do they have respect for rules and regulations?
Procedures...Processes?
No never...as money can buy anything and every thing.
Including pedigreed,greedy,fancy degree holders.
Not to forget the in vogue certifications too...that help shine the awning of the business house to attract more gullible talent and unwary customers.
Value based built experience...never.

Do they have a Vision?...on paper... yes!!! but in spirit...its zilch.
Do they have missions? Not really.
Do they set realistic goals?...seldom! as goal setting is a useless exercise in front of the all knowing CEO/MD with self acclaimed experience of donkeys ears, built into the business plan too.
Do they have tactical and strategical plans in place...never!
Its always play by the ear stuff...and more of build as you get along.
Do they hire to retain,grow, and not use and throw?...No they dont.
They invariably hire to fire.
Or get to make the employee what I now call " resign by design"
Use and throw....in any which way they can...as money can get them another resource.
Do they have a healthy respect for Standard Operating Procedures? Whats That? Ha...Ha...Ha.
Do they know how to find the right man for the right job...yes they do! as long as its one of their friend,relative,a novice all obliging youngster, with a gift of the gab,apple polisher,or a mole of long standing.
Do they know whether they are coming or going...yes they do as long as the money is coming!


But who Am I to ask all this?
Who gave me the authority?
How dare I?
Thats the stance they took...will take too, as and when things are in place and traction has either happened or made to happen after I slog at it, passionately.
How stupid of me.


The last time I did help somebody in such a grief... he went ahead and made 10 billion dollars.
Covertly or Overtly...but he did.
Ultimately.
As hind sight I know where and at what stage he would have fallen on his face but for my contribution to stabilize it for its worth then.
I peeled of from that business plan at the right time as values meant nothing...money every thing.
I regretted too,initially, as I lost out on an opportunity to rake in too.
Not for long....as what I was prophetic about while leaving them came true too, within the time lines assigned also.
That business plan was closed down..in times to come.
My values saved me...so what I missed out on the moolah!
Thats me speaking as hindsight now.

I moved my cheese well in time.
Minus the larger pain that would have resulted had I continued to build it on their set of values.

The next couple of business plans were a cake walk for me...as I has learnt how to read the message on the wall pretty well and early too...and stop dead on my tracks of growing it,when things were not in alignment to what was decided.
I would warn them...and wait for change to happen.
It would not...so there I was moving my cheese once again.
Minus the greater pain as an end result.

As hind sight and after a lot of introspection I am convinced and have not and will not ever...join them, as is spelt out in a very corporate adage..." when you cant win then join them."
What for ...for a few dollars more?
Never.


The secret of success is known to both the successful and the unsuccessful.
Yes I know I can never make money... as my value based tale is too long to carry an wield in a modern corporate environment.
I am made to earn money...work hard and slog...pay check to pay check.
I shall.
With my values inbuilt...and move till I either reach the set of the best professionals who do too.
As the best work for the best.

Either that...or, if I ever decide to make money...like the one man I admire, I will too...like ...Mr Warren Buffet did.
I would too.
As he is an ideal Idol.

Axee
Alias
Arun