Mr. Kantilal Motilal Shah is the founder and chairman of Shah Exports Pvt. Ltd., a diamond manufacturing and exporting company having manufacturing units at Surat in Gujarat, India and headquarter and marketing office in Mumbai, India. His company currently exports finished diamonds to more than seventy countries directly from Mumbai.

Mr. Shah comes from a Gujarati farming family who was dropped out of school at the age of thirteen and started working at his uncle's diamond business in Surat. In his early twenties, he started his own diamond business gradually involving all his brothers. Just at the age of thirty, he formed Shah Exports Ltd. shifting the core business from diamond polishing to full-fledged diamond business. The epic growth story continued. In 2016, at his age of fifty four, he saw his creation had crossed Rupees six thousand crore turnover mark.

Mr. Shah’s success story made him recognised for many awards nationally and internationally. He became a glittering star in Indian industrial world. But, he could create sensation two years back in all forms of media by simply giving exemplary rewards to his own employees during the festive season. Out of the total employee strength of six thousand, he identified more than thousand who could achieve their annual targets for the last three years. He rewarded them with the gifts worth Rupees fifty crore which included approximately five hundred cars, five hundred sets of jewellery and two hundred apartments.

Mr. Shah has a happy and beautiful family consisting of his beloved wife Shanti, two daughters Samata and Shraddha and only son Milind. Shanti is a caring mother and all three were groomed with utmost care under a well accomplished value system. Samata is now married and helping her husband’s family business while Shraddha is still in her college. Milind is pursuing his MBA in US.

THE SHAH LESSONS:

Milind was groomed with all possible comforts but those never crossed the acceptable limit. Mr. Shah and his wife both were very critical in this regard. In fact, there was no such publicity in all the three children’s behaviour that they hail from such a rich business family. This made them specially loveable to their friends and the employees of Mr. Shah’s business. Most importantly, Milind was never given to understand that he would be the automatics successor of his father’s business rather he followed the path of a common student having a target of a good job or a business. In fact, Mr. Shah never allowed any of his children to think that they were co-owner or future owner of his business empire.

While Milind came home for a vacation, the second day after home coming, Mr. Shah called him and discussed with him about the progress of his studies and his future plans. Milind was little bit surprised as he did not have this kind of conversation with his father earlier. He replied with all hesitation that nothing concrete had been decided. Mr. Shah then asked him about the duration of his vacation which Milind replied as approximately one and half months. Mr. Shah enquired if there is any specific assignment scheduled otherwise he has something to share with. Milind did not have any such scheduled assignment and he, most politely wanted to know his father’s words.

Mr. Shah told Milind, “My son, soon you shall have your degree. You have already passed so many examinations and more you shall do in the next year or so. I want you to appear in a small test.”

Milind – “Yes Papa, anything you say.”

Mr. Shah – “I want you to understand the life a little bit. I want you to know how a common man in the street struggles to get a job or to earn their livelihood. You should know it because you do not have this experience with you yet.”

Milind – “Tell me what I have to do.”

Mr. Shah – “You have to spend next one month starting from tomorrow in a place which is not known to you and preferably, there is a problem in communicating with the ordinary people for language difference. That may be preferably any city in the deep south of India where people generally do not speak in Hindi. There, you will search jobs, earn your bread, pay for your shelter and come back with some savings. I have a few other conditions too. First, you cannot disclose your identity to anybody. You shall not be allowed to use any of your connections during this period including any of your family members, relatives and my employees. Second, you shall carry only three sets of dress which must be of very ordinary style and quality and a very cheap mobile phone without any value added facility. The phone may be used only for your job search and nothing else. Third, you will be provided with Rupees seven thousand as a safety fund and not for spending. Until there is any emergency, you have to pay back the same intact. Fourth and final, ideally, you should not stick to any job for the duration more than a week. I want that you should find out at least three-four jobs during this month.”

During their conversation, Shanti entered the room and silently hearing both of them. After Mr. Shah had finished, she reacted by saying, “Are you serious? You must be joking!”

Mr. Shah – “No, I am absolutely serious.”

Shanti – “How can he do this?”

Mr. Shah – “Keep faith on him. He can.”

Shanti – “I always respected your words because you always take decisions prudently. But, this time, I feel little bit anxious.”

Mr. Shah – “Look, this is not a compulsion. He can jolly well decline my task. But, I shall be happier if he at least tries it out.”

Milind was having a storm inside. He could not understand what was happening. Only thing he was considering that his papa could not do any wrong.

Milind – “Mama, please don’t be worried. I am accepting this task with all the conditions. I shall be completely loyal to these. Let me decide the place.”

Mr. Shah – “You may choose Kochi.”

Milind – “Ok Papa, I can start tomorrow.”

Mr. Shah – “My blessings are with you. Do not forget three advices. First, you may feel frustrated but keep your cool and do not lose heart. Second, man can do everything and so, you can do it. Third, all jobs are respected till it is legal and not harming the society. Do not hesitate to take a job which is not considered as a big one.”

Milind – “Papa, I shall never forget those.”

Mr. Shah – “I shall consider you successful if you come back with that Rupees seven thousand intact but it will be a great success if you come back with your additional earnings whatever amount it may be.”

Milind was primarily in a shock and could not understand what he would do. Gradually, he got himself settled. The exuberance and fearlessness of youth made him spirited. It came to his mind that his father started own business at his age only and there is no reason that he could not take up the challenge and survive for only one month.

Milind left for Kochi next day, far from his hometown where people in the street talk in Malayalam which is completely unknown to him. He started his job search with the identity of a Class XII pass candidate coming from a poor farmer family. It was frustrating because there was no success. During first five days he tried in almost fifty places without any luck. On the sixth day, he got a job at a bakery. Gradually, he got jobs in a shoe shop, a call centre and one McDonald’s outlet.

THE REALISATION:

On the thirtieth day night, for the first time, Mr. Shah received a call from Milind that he was coming back after completing the mission. On arriving next day, in a close family get together while expressing his experience, he said, “It was extremely difficult for me because I did not have any clue how shall I arrange even Rupees fifty for a meal. Moreover, my lodging charge was Rupees two hundred fifty a day. I still owe a lot to that bakery owner Mr. Ramesh who gave me the first opportunity. I feel now as if I am a completely different person.”

Next day morning, Mr. Ramesh got a thanks call from the PRO of Shah Exports revealing the truth. That evening, Milind met Mr. Shah in front of his mother and said, “Papa, I think I have done it. Please take back your Rupees seven thousand and another three thousand seven hundred twenty five which I could earn after meeting all my expenses.” Mr. Shah told Milind, “One day you shall realise that this amount worth more than three crore. Yes, you have made it. God bless you.”

Milind departed from the room. Mr. Shah said to his wife with a smile of satisfaction, “My Empire has got its Prince.”

Note:

An article was published on 24^th July, 2016 in Times of India, Bhubaneswar authored by Sreemol TC and Sreejith Rk. The author is highly inspired by this article which is the basic foundation of this case study. All the characters, places and incidences portrayed in this case study are fictitious. Any resemblance with reality is purely coincidental.

REFERENCE:

Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org

Received on 30.08.2016 Modified on 18.11.2016

Asian J. Management; 2017; 8(1):117-119.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5763.2017.00019.1