Another day another Dollar

‘Another Day, Another Dollar’

- The Corporate Giant -

(Article by Gautam Nath, Executive Vice President, TNS India, a leading Global market research and information Group)

06.00 a.m. and the alarm went off.

Another day another dollar!

Up he sprang from his bed and Ramesh was hitting the shower while the coffee percolator did its job.

Sipping his coffee 10 minutes later, Ramesh quickly tapped his laptop, which was forever on to see last nights final stock market figures in London. Our stock is up 13%, good he thought, that would be news for the Board when we meet this morning.

Donning his Tuscan Verve track outfit, his Adidas and his Apple Ipod, off he went to Joggers Park and was soon in another world. The sunrise was just breaking and the previous nights dew about to fade. By 07.00 a.m., there would be just too many Joggers for him to keep his pace so he stepped up the gas and his Adidas took flight. 5 laps around the 2-mile track and he was done for the day.

Who am I meeting for lunch today he wondered? Oh yes! Mr. Ambani about the new project. That would be nice; he always has a good story or two to say. Never a dull moment and never a deal below a Million. Aah! Should be a good day today.

“Good morning Ramesh” called out Jyoti his neighbour. An actress and a model, she was always sipping lemon tea on her balcony as he returned from his jog. Are you coming to my party tonight? She cooed, oozing Oomph! and other


physical assets as she leaned on her railing. Boy! He thought, another evening of hedonistic film world decadence, I could do without. “Lets see Jyoti, what the day brings” he diplomatically responded and went up the stairs two at a time.

SSS and soon he was in the car on the way to Flurry’s where he was having breakfast with Jon who was his reporting senior and mentor. We will settle the opening of our new office in Sri Lanka he thought. And I have the right man selected for the job. Praveen would be just the right person and I have groomed him into shape. Jon was already there, his crisp white shirt, his camel linen trousers and casual Hush Puppy moccasins. Ramesh felt pride as he approached, Wow! The man is 50 but looks not a day over 40.

They had worked together for the last 20 years and Jon was greatly responsible for grooming Ramesh to take over the mantle as the Managing Director two years ago. What a roller coaster ride, it had been. We opened 4 new offices, increased our turnover by 200% and through our Offshore Research Centre were servicing over 15 of our overseas offices. Quite an achievement he thought, as he pulled up a chair and was shaking Jon’s firm hand.

Eggs and Baccy and we are all wakey wakey.

Conversation was pleasant as usual, Jon the avid sports fan, had been following the latest World Cup series and had many comment to make. They called about the Brazil chances given the way Germany was playing and lost track of time when his mobile broke the dialogue with its loud ring.



It was Sandra from the office, his highly efficient office assistant, who was just priceless. For everything else, there’s Master Card.

As Ramesh listened, he was advised of his appointments for the day. 10 O’ clock - the Board Meeting, 12 O’ clock -meeting the new staff at the Offshore Centre. 1.30 lunch -with Anil, 3 O’clock - a video conference call with Dan, CEO of the Group, Jerry the Regional Managing Director and Will the HR Director. They had to make the investment decision on opening of the new Tony Capital Academy of Excellence. A 50 million dollar investment but one that would be worth its weight in gold, a few years down the line. The call done, he waved good-bye to Jon and was on his way to the office.

The Board Meeting was pleasant, not too much to argue and everyone left feeling happy about the latest stock prices. Keep it up Ramesh they said, your team of managers are among the best in the world.

There was lunch with Anil, he surprisingly was in a good mood having just returned from the Cannes Film Festival and there was no reference to any family issues. The Roast Ribs and Chablis would have made any man forget even worser things.

They parted having signed on to conduct a customer satisfaction study among his dealers, an All India project that would see an investment of over a Million Dollars but increase sales though efficient management to the tune of 50 million. Promising to come over for a game of golf it was back to the office for the next appointment.

This Videoconference technology has saved the corporate world such time and money, he thought as Naresh was helping set up the connection and soon he was on the air. 4 people in 4 different continents simultaneously on screen and able to dialogue. Yes truly a technological advancement.

After debating for an hour about various issues, they decided to press the green button and it was All Signals Go!

And then the mobile rang once again, it was a frantic call from Delhi and an emergency MRSI meeting had been called for that very evening. Said Panther, over the phone; ‘Ramesh your presence is critical to this meeting, you just have to make it here’.

Before the phone call was over, Ramesh was already in his car and instructing Sandra to call the airport to book his seat and was soon in the air. Appreciative of the hot cuppa that Bonsita, the young hostess served him in Business Class, he rested a bit.

The limo was there to greet him and by 7 pm Ramesh was in the Boardroom at the Grand Hyatt calling the shots. Decisions, decisions.

By 9.30, he was back in the air catching a few winks and recording some thoughts on his Dictaphone. Ismail was waiting with a cold towel and a Red Bull.

The bell tolled 12 just as he walked up the stairs; he could hear Eric Clapton strumming his strings at Jyoti's, laughter and clinking of glasses followed. Nimble footed, he managed to pass by without being stopped. The party’s happening it seems he thought while he unlocked his door and turned up
the lights.

A Dry Martini, catching up on CNBC for half an hour and Ramesh turned in for the night.

Tomorrows another day, and another Dollar!