So, I was quite desperate today! I heard back from UBS this evening that they cannot go forward with my internship, which had only been confirmed last week. This is the second time something of this sort has happened to me in the last couple of months. Apparently, I am over-qualified according to their internal internship policies, since I left University about 3.5 years ago and their internships are only for 'recent graduates'. Now, why was this not brought up in the last 2 months, while I was participating in different selection processes of UBS, is beyond my understanding. But what I find most amazing is, had I been in a situation where I went back to University for 6 months, after my AIESEC International term, to complete my course (as some of my team mates from AI did) I would have been eligible for this internship :).
So during dinner, my dad had some words of wisdom for me, which I think are worth sharing. He told me the story of an old Indian King, which goes something like this -
"So there was a King who went to hunt one day. He was obviously accompanied by a troop of his soldiers and some other ministers from his court. He also had his doctor with him, for any emergencies.
One day, while chasing a deer on foot, the King was bitten by a snake on one of his toes and was left unconscious. The King's doctor amputated the toe as that was the only way of ensuring that the snake's poison didn't spread to the rest of the body. The King was very angry when he learnt about the amputation and without giving the doctor an opportunity to explain, he ordered for the doctor to be sent to prison for life.
Now, a few year's later, on another one of his hunting expeditions, the King lost his way in the forest and separated from his company of soldiers. He was then caught by a group of tribesmen to be offered as a human sacrifice to their Goddess. At the altar, when the King's shoes were taken off, the tribesman realized that one of his toes was missing. They let him go as the sacrifice of an incomplete man is not acceptable to the Goddess.
The King found his way back to his Kingdom and the first thing that he did was he ordered for his doctor to be set free from prison. He was extremely apologetic to the doctor when he met him next but the doctor seemed unperturbed about the time spent in prison. He actually thanked the King for putting him in the prison. The King was thus very confused.
The doctor explained by saying - Oh good King! Had I not been in prison I would have been by your side when you were caught by the tribesman and I would have surely been the person to be sacrificed. So you saved my life by putting me in prison."
The moral of the story - whatever does happen, happens for the best. It might not seem that way at that particular moment, but in hindsight we come to understand it. As Steve Jobs very rightly said in his very famous 2005 commencement speech at Stanford - "You cannot connect the dots of life looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards."
So I ask - what's next? As I am very sure whatever is next is for the better.
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15 comments:
You and Vaibhav should start a consultancy that schools multinationals on how to recognise awesome Jaipur talent when they see it....Seems to be a organisational capacity that is lacking these days...
Highly respect your spirit and attitude! All the best!
So Tom, do you remember this conversation that the 2 of us had in August last year, some time. This is after Geta had been offered that internship with Carolyn's team. You were talking about how happy you were because from every AI team there is 1 person who gets shafted and you were worried that it would be Geta.
My dearest Shantanu
I was told similar story after that day...And still cant understand it still seams to me so unfair and so unbelieveble..but on the other hand i believe everything that happens in our life has a meaning...everyone of us needs to go tough times in our life to get to know what is important for us and to appreciate the brighter days even more then we do usually. I bet your bright days are just behind the corner..dont give up..I am sure you will get soon amazing job...You be honest i somehow know you needed this experiece to become even clever and stronger person that you certainly are already now.
Hugs miss you so much
Eva
PS:have you received sms we have sent you from Emirates with Chico?
Hey Dude!
Don't worry too much about it - if they let you down like this, it's probably better that you don't work in the company like this.
Something much bigger is waiting for you round the corner, I know this. Take care
Mike
"Misfortune might be a blessing in disguises"!
Cliff
A story to share with you:
Blessing or Bane (Sai Weng Shi Ma, Yan Zhi Fei Fu)
Near China's northern borders lived a man well versed in the practices of Taoism. His horse, for no reason at all, got into the
territory of the northern tribes. Everyone commiserated with him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
After a few months, his animal came back, leading a fine horse from the north. Everyone congratulated him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a cause of misfortune," said
his father.
Since he was well-off and kept good horses his son became fond of
riding and eventually broke his thigh bone falling from a horse.
Everyone commiserated with him.
"Perhaps this will soon turn out to be a blessing," said his father.
One year later, the northern tribes started a big invasion of the border regions. All able-bodied young men took up arms and fought against the invaders, and as a result, around the border nine out of ten men died. This man's son did not join in the fighting because he was crippled and so both the boy and his father survived.
Oh dear Dude...
First of all... I am so sorry about the UBS thingy... sorry for UBS that is! They have absolutely NO idea what they have just lost. I can see in a few year's time when you meet the CEO of UBS and you tell him you ALMOST went to work for them. Boy will he gnash his teeth.
Nice story about the King too!
Shantanu, I am a LinkedIn member based out of Dubai and have something that might interest you. Whats you email and contact number?
Viplove Bakshi
viplove.bakshi@alabbas.com
Hey Man!
Just came across your blog, so I thought I'll drop in a word.
It's quite terrible that bureaucracy (in this case the corporate one!) continues be a global phenomenon that won't leave us alone! Well, tough luck on the UBS. Like many have mentioned, you probably deserve better than someone that doesn't want you!
Regardless, keep us updated on your next steps. Would be great to run into you somewhere down the road!
Cheers,
Emad
Hi Man!
Actually nice thing to discuss - being over-qualified.
Wonder how many people from AIESEC face the same issue....Entrepreneurship LN surely works!!! ;)
How are you doing now?
Hugs,
Zhenia (Russia 05-06)
We have a saying "what is yours, it will eventually come to you from elsewhere". and then you will connect the dots from the past :)
i really hope things will work out for you man, if not worked out till now:)
all the best
Darko
I am not too perplexed for you.. as what goes around comes around. I respect you however I think you feel much too superior..
shantanu,
hard luck on the internship situation...
but on the flip side - killer story..
wishing you the very best in finding 'what's next' mate.
Thank you so so much for all your kind words of encouragement. They mean a lot to me.
The interesting update from my side is that I have now taken up a role with UBS based out of India and I am supposed to start on the 1st of July. This obviously was the patch work that we had to do after the internship fell through.
This role is quite interesting - not what I had envisioned for myself at this stage of my career - but should be a very good learning experience.
Thanks once again & I will keep you all updated through different channels.
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