June, 2014

My recent business trip to hyderabad was well planned and lasted about a week. I knew what was on my agenda, what we re my priorities, what were my tasks, what all i had to accomplish, and when i completed the trip, i found that it was fruitful, successful, and i had nearly achieved, sparing one major task gone wrong, which upset me a lot!!

My disheartening melted chocolates that got damaged in transit

Well, i was supposed to exhibit my chocolates and handcrafted items at two venues of residential apartments in gated communities, where a good footfall and consequently a good business was expected – apparently! I began my journey here from Mumbai, uneventfully and as soon as i reached, i got set to arrange my things and my stuff for my first ever “exhibition” at Hyderabad! I was positive, hopeful, but also upset about the disaster that happened with my chocolates. The parcel i had booked from Bombay, for almost 6 kgs of chocolates, was received later than it was supposed to arrive, and in worse condition that one could imagine! There were all kinds of emotions gushing my veins – anger, helplessness, frustration, disappointment, anxiety, confusion, etc...but my brother, and my uncle helped to cool down and focus ont he task in front of me, which required my attention. Well said and done, i spent almost the entire night on 6^th june, arranging my stuff, organizing things, planning where to and how to display the bare minimum chocolates i possessed at hand. It was only then, i could sleep a few hours – peacefully.

That day, i woke up early, showered, finished my breakfast quickly, waited for the driver to come and pick me up alongwith my display baggage, and finally reached an unknown place, looking around, trying to make acquaintance. Within a few minutes i made myself feel as if the place is known to me! Strange feeling, but i forcefully ignored those (inspite of my nervousness) and focussed on selecting a table for me, and arranging my stuff on it, after satisfying myself about the place i had chosen and other logistics. Only after two hours i finally pulled a chair and settled down on it. I looked at my table and felt a tinge of satisfaction, but then immediately this was overtaken by dissatisfaction and a reminder of the fact that my chocolates had all melted, sitting in my uncle’s refrigerator, which could have been proudly displayed on my table right now. Anyways – i thought to myself. I have to cheer myself up and focus on my customers for the day. My neighbours did try to make conversation with me, i showing disinterest; It was dull and lull, as the day passed by and the hours trickled by, until it was 5 pm, and a few people did start coming in the hall. I made good contacts and meaningful conversations with some of the customers coming by and luckily made acquaintance with a reference, who turned out to be a senior executive at Infosys! I jumped at that and wasted no time in requesting for displaying my stuff at Infosys cafeteria, to which she promised she would assist me, using her position.




	As the evening begin to progress, my disappointment increased as the air conditioning system was not working and my chocolates were melting away – and no significant sales! Inspite of this, my customers were pretty satisfied with the taste, appearance and costing of my chocolates. In fact, they encouraged me a lot and also expressed sympathy that my lovely chocolates were melting away due to the heat!!

Well, i decided to wind up sooner than i had expected to and i started packing up, just then a few people came p to me to make conversations. Instantly, i decided to make it even better at my next exhibition. The hired driver who had come to pick me up from the exhibition venue, tried to have conversation with me, and though i was initially disinterested due to my disappointment for the day, i eventually begin to gather lots of useful information from him, as he showed interest and appreciation for my work. He helped me map a few more potential business opportunities and suggested names of a few more gated communities which could give me good business. I mindfully thanked him a lot, and took up this information and discussed with my relatives. I made mental notes.

The next day was a weekly off, so i spent a lot of time in conversations with my relatives, and my Anna, about what happened so far and how i would make it better the next time, and in the next show. The following day was planned for meetings and travelling. Monday, saw me meeting my clients in Hyderabad, having telephone conversations, and planning my business agenda for coming months. I also met one of my Anna’s close friends, who works on a senior position at an MNC bank, and it was a meaningful, fruitful conversation, for which i had waited for quite a few days! It gave me lots of positive feelings, excitement and motivation. Whenever i visit Hyderabad, people whom i meet and interact with seem very positive, encouraging, appreciative of what i do, and very cooperative and kind. I get lots of help, blessings, love and appreciation for my work, and for my skills. My chocolates receive as much love as i do. Each time i come back with lots of hopes and positive thoughts and eagerness for my next trip.

My exhibition on the following Tuesday and Wednesday was at a nearby place – one of the best and largest apartment communities in Hyderabad.

Of the two days that i spent there, i received very warm and encouraging response in terms of sales and business development. I also managed to make few contacts, develop ideas, took feedback and suggestions from people; the best thing that happened here was many people expressed interest to learn from me, my chocolate making, candle making and greeting & blessing card making. Almost all of them expressed that they were overwhelmed at the display and the effort i had taken for presentation, decoration and arrangement of my stall....that also turned one of the reason for sales. (Next time, i have lots of hopes and expectations from this place. Overall, it was very good, i am happy, but nothing over the top to make me feel satisfied. I mean, it could have been better – sales i mean). Instantly, thoughts began turning on in my head to organize a small workshop for chocolate making within the campus, reminding me also that few days back, there was an enquiry also from elsewhere to learn chocolate making from me. Wow! This is overwhelming! Yes, i took it positively, gave affirmations to these “seekers” that i shall soon let them learn chocolate making from me. How to organize, that i shall figure out peacefully. Anna arrived to pick me up from this venue, and even on the way home we discussed nearly everything that happened for the day, also made plans for future, considering all the feedback and my observations.

Hyderabad has given me a good encouraging response, giving me warm acceptance and allowing me to explore. We still don’t know what awaits the future, but i don’t want to disappoint myself and work toward the best, but be prepared to face failures even.

And by the way, not to forget – my carefully handcrafted blessing cards are also going places, making more sense than ever – now. I am getting recognition, blessings in return and lots of praise for all that i share!! I think these greeting cards and blessing cards have a long way to go – i feel pleasure and peace while writing these. I guess it translates into positive energy i spread around when i write them. It is a new concept that is spreading and slowly steadily gaining momentum!

Cheers!!!

Your Chocolatier.

Summer Workshop for children [Bhayandar, May 2014]

May, 2014, Bhayandar, Mumbai

bout 30 children attended the summer workshop organized at the bhayandar Center from May 9^th to 11^th, 2014. All of the three days, the participants, aged between 7 and 11 learnt various useful activities like meditation, values through story telling, puppet demonstration and live examples. On day one, they also spent quality time in learning about the basics of music and singing. Children seemed to be very keen and well prepared to receive all that was going to be taught and learnt. Along with music, children also learnt some basic, simple and “best out of waste” methods to prepare greeting cards. Participants had already brought with them basic material and resources required for a simple card making. During the course, it was observed that children at the tender age of 7, 8 and 9 years are very open, receptive, have good grasping power, are cooperative and very enthusiastic. At the end of it, they were happy, having learnt something very useful and meaningful.

To train the children in these various disciplines, like card making, music, dramatics, puppet-story, drawing, yoga, meditation, values-through-stories, resource faculties belonging to these fields were invited and these were more than happy to teach the children what they had come to seek.

Some glimpses