And then there were Two

Blog 13 of 30

I soon got my got my second client. The second is always easier as you already have one client in the bag. Perhaps it gives clients more confidence in you or it gives you confidence more confidence in yourself… I am not sure which matters more!

This was with leading finance company where I coordinated with a lively bubbly young woman who herself had risen through the ranks and would soon hold one of the most senior positions in the organisation. The magazine was something that she wanted to do effectively and spent hours with me discussing, debating, and brainstorming ideas.

While much of it was standard fare, the column I enjoyed most was the back page where we decided to interview prominent personalities who had an account with the company. This was to take me on a fabulous journey to meet some incredible people. I met musicians, IAS officers, politician’s, people in the military, and many many more.

Armed with my trusted camera, my recorder, and a bunch of questions, I would head out to meet them. Most of them were very accommodating and would spend hours talking to me and welcoming me to their homes, even providing me with meals!

Perhaps the most memorable of these that I remember was an interview with Mr. TN Seshan, a civil servant who was then serving as Chief Election Commissioner of India and became known for his electoral reforms. I arrived at his place one morning and was told very strictly I would get 10 minutes and no more as he was leaving for a meeting. I nodded and quickly started crossing off less important questions.

What I found was a welcoming man, happy to talk, happy to share his experiences and quite happy to ignore the 10-minute deadline. When we finally ended the interview, I realised with a start that I had taken almost an hour. I tiptoed out giving his assistant a sheepish and apologetic smile.

As we drove away, I turned around to see the security forces jumping to attention as Mr Seshan entered his car. But the person who was most thrilled with the experience was my driver Sunderarajan. He told me proudly how he waited outside, and the security forces were grumbling at him because I had taken so much of time. He had informed them that I was writing for a magazine and could not be hurried. He was very proud of it. Perhaps he imagined me reporting for one of the leading papers. The fact that it was a small house magazine did not even strike him. I grinned at his pride and realised how much that mattered to him – that he was driving someone who could meet with the likes of Mr. TN Seshan and delay his meeting! I felt great pride in getting a second client.

I held my head up higher and sat up a little straighter. Soon I had more enquiries for my professional services. My stock was on the rise with clients, within my circle of friends and family and most definitely my driver.