The Germ of an Idea

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After two clients many other projects followed, some memorable, some not so memorable. but the fact remains that work came by regularly. Over a period of time, I developed enough of a body of work, to get referred to more and more people.

I remember a leading manufacturing company giving us a brochure to do. They were so happy with my content that they called me every time they needed content written. In fact, one day I had the head of an advertising agency that handled their work call me up. He needed some content written and the client had expressly told them to outsource the content to me. He was slightly annoyed at being asked to outsource but when the project was done, he grudgingly congratulated me on the job. To get a request like this from a large, prominent, fairly celebrated advertising agency was a real feeling of pride.  

But with more work, I needed help. I struggled with the decision of who I should hire. A full-time employee would find it hard working with my eccentric and erratic schedule with children and home. But somewhere I believe that the right opportunities come to us. We merely have to recognise them.

An old friend and dear friend from school, Vidya Chandar, who had a son about the same age as my sons mentioned that she was taking a break from her own profession for few years. I floated the idea of working together and bringing her son with her. She jumped at it. We had always been close friends as were our parents, but this decision was to strengthen the relationship between us forever. Our children grew up together, like siblings almost, even going to the same play school. They played together, had their meals together, and for both of us it was a wonderful relationship of work and friendship.

While I loved working with her, it also made me aware of the fact that there were so many bright, smart, intelligent women who wanted what I did – a way to balance home and career without giving up on time with the children.

Recently the tenants who had lived in the ground floor that belonged to my parents had moved out. As my parents visited from time to time, they decided to not rent it out again. So, we moved downstairs, and the office took over the first floor which gave enough space for three rambunctious boys.

The extra space and my friend joining me kind of merged in my mind and gave me an idea. Could I create space for more women to work and bring in their children? It had so many advantages both professionally and personally. It would mean getting bright intelligent young women who had very few other options and who would love working here. It would mean building a strong team and building up the business. It would mean providing the children a safe space and a chance to be with their mom’s even while they were at work. And it would give my children a wonderful circle of friends to play with each day.

It was an idea… a germ of an idea. But first I needed more work to hire more people.