An interesting study by a business executive is reproduced here (abridged by JIRARA):
***
Recently, I had been, as part of my educational research to talk to a few shop keepers, in Chickpet, Bangalore, to understand how they do business and what education has to do to them, with regards to their businesses; most of them were from Rajasthan and in their teenage.
One shopkeeper greeted me with a great smile saying, Brother, what do you want?
Me: Some shirt and pant piece.
Bramhadev: He started showing me all his collections.
Meanwhile,
Me: How did you learn Kannada?
Bramhadev: By talking to people.
Me: When did you start this business?
Bramhadev: It is 10 years now. I started it when I failed in my 10th. My uncle got me here.
Me: How many languages you speak?
Brahmadev: Hindi, English, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu & Malayalam.
Me: What is the monthly turnover?
Brahmadev: Normally, it is around 8-9 lakhs; during festivals it will shoot up to 15; profit upto 4 lakhs per month.
Me: What about your education?
Brahmadev: None of our family members has completed their education. To complete, it might take 5-6 years which I feel is a big waste of time and money. I invested both of these in my business. Today, not even one of the educated persons with a work experience of 10 years will earn like me.
Me: Education would have helped you grow more than what you are earning today.
Brahmadev: Education would give us fear and make us feel that, one has to work under someone to earn their livelihood; does not teach us to live independently. My graduate friends are working in some private firm; here, I am very happy. (In between another customer had purchased 20 pairs of shirts and pants and few sarees. Without using a calculator Bramhadev calculated the total cost of the purchase and told the customer it including 10% discount in just 15-20 seconds).
Me: You don't even use a calculator?
Bramhadev: Educated people need calculator and mobile phones, not me!; I am doing this for 10 years and I have become perfect; I will never err in my calculation.
After this, I made a purchase and the whole of the next day, I was thinking about our conversation over and over. I would like to infer what I learnt:
1. Without higher education, Bramhadev is not jobless. Whereas our today's graduates with distinction, are still jobless.
2. Bramhadev has good communication skills. But, today's corporate world complains about our graduates for poor skills.
3. Bramhadev earns in lakhs, where as our current generation graduates complain of not having enough salary to pay their EMIs.
4. Bramhadev's mathematical mind works faster than today's graduates who has cleared different levels of mathematics papers with high scores.
5. Bramhadev has no fear of losing his job, but today's graduate employees live in fear of getting fired.
From: Pradeep Joshi, Kwality Business Initiatives, PGDM, Bajaj Mumbai, Six Sigma Consultant.
*****
