Sharing an incidence from early part of my career - why everyone should be given a second chance. Way back in 1993 we made our first breakthrough with an American customer. Developed a product for them which got approved and they ordered a pilot lot of 6000 nos valued 5400 USD

We committed to send him these parts in 2 months time. It took us almost 9 months to make them and every few days I will come up with some excuse. The primary mode of communication was fax those days. No emails. I faxed him the invoice for 6000 pcs even before the parts were ..

..packed. During inspection found out that 300 odd nos were out of spec. And ek pe ek itne jhoot bol chuke the ki there was no option of sending 5700 nos nor their was time, money or material to make 300 more numbers. I asked my QC guy to mix up these 300 in 5700 and ship.

As it was to eventually happen the shipment got rejected. My first sale in life. My whole capital of 5400 USD. And more than that FERA laws were stringent and not getting payment in 6 months would result in my company getting blacklisted by govt. And me going back to my hometown.

..with my third failed career opportunity. I called him and told him all facts and truth, how my foreman had found out and still I insisted and sent and why I sent. I requested to please pay and someday I will compensate him back not sure how.

I still remember his words, “Sandeep, this is my investment in your learning process. Never compromise on quality of your product” He still is my customer. We went on to make over 100000 parts per month of the same product in couple of years.

That day if he would have not paid me I would have gone back to my parents and God knows what life it would have been. My whole dream of career in manufacturing would have closed. Few lessons I learnt in this episode which helped me always in our growth

1. Never compromise on quality
2. Never lie. Trust should be basis of all relations
3. Give others also a second opportunity. I know he has earned millions with our products. Same way I can be benefited
4. Never spoil any relation.Relative role in relation keeps changing