We can win TOGETHER
Sorry for the long silence as it has been really tough to balance work-life in this tough economic climate and my latest article presents a unique dimension to the downturn/recession and how could we possibly minimize the impact together
I am sure all of us have learnt a lot about Recession, Subprime crisis, stock markets, price indices and few more aspects which wouldn't have meant much to us prior to this unpleasant, unexpected and unwanted change that has hit many places and people globally.
I see property (houses, apartments etc…) ads on television, newspapers and other media trying to convince us with astonishing rates and everyone there trying to sound as promising as they can to win the buck. On the other hand, shops and retail businesses are trying to make the best use of every opportunity – Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Mother’s Day to weather the recession.
Technology companies around the world are confused unaware of what is the next potential market for them which can mitigate the risk they have from economies who have been the heart of their outsourcing action and who today are shying away or atleast trying to do so. Emerging markets all said and done haven't shown any great positive difference except the resilience which could pay off in the long run
I was wondering is there something we all can do at an individual level which when combined will make a world of difference!!! I wish I was an economist, I would have carved out a very convincing plan or may be would have tried convincing people with whatever I have in hand even if it’s unrealistic as it happens in most of the political scenarios around the world :-), just kidding. But but but, I have a story which I had fortunately read around twelve years ago which bears a very strong relevance to the current economic situation which I felt can trigger a thought in most of us to do something to minimize the damage this downturn has caused and is causing to our society. May be unknowingly or knowingly we might help someone save their job, or give one a peaceful life even if it’s for a day, or spread smiles across miles
A story set in the ancient times around a fantasy town called Pumpelsdrop with the story titled ‘The man who saved Pumpelsdrop’, I truly wish every nation, city, town or village experience a magic that Pumpelsdrop goes through in the story. I have tried as much as I could to know and publish the author’s name here but I have not been successful in finding the right details, however the closest I can recall I guess is ‘Mr. Walter J Turner’. Also about the story I have tried to cover the essence to the best possible extent, please excuse me if I have missed out any key points if you are aware of the story!!
The story is about a stranger, whom the author calls as a Lunatic and considers him to be the greatest benefactor, the town of Pumpelsdrop had ever known. The story refers to the time in the history of ‘Pumpelsdrop’ when the town would be experiencing a terrible economic turmoil, when everything seems to be deteriorating - businesses, agriculture and so on. Many who would have had lost hopes would have started leaving the town to make a better living or just ‘a living’ elsewhere. It was a defining movement for Pumpelsdrop and no one had a clue what would or who would save them
On a particular morning a stranger walks into the local car showroom which was the only showroom, selling expensive cars though. Due to the recession there wasn't any stock for a ready dispatch and it would have been more than a year since the showroom saw a car actually sold. This stranger who walked in to the showroom orders for a fleet of cars (may be around 6-10 ten of those) which startles the showroom owner and makes him ask the stranger for an advance. The Stranger pulls out a cheque book and signs a cheque for the bulk of the amount and says he would pay the rest when he returns to collect the vehicles.
With the joy that his business has seen some light the car showroom owner gifts his wife some cash on the same evening asking her to buy some jewelry for herself, she falling short of words shops to her delight the same evening. With the money flown in to the Jeweler’s hands he shares his content with his wife by giving her some cash to spend, the lady buys some furniture and I am sure you have guessed it right by now, the fun goes on and on.
Before one could realize the town was fully back in action and finally the day had come when the stranger had to pick up the cars. The car showroom owner was going through the most exciting day of his life with the satisfaction and confidence that this order has given life not just to them but to the whole town and they have already seen small orders coming in
A while later a van (which appears to be an ambulance) stops slightly away from the showroom and three people exiting from it walk towards the showroom. They show a photograph to the showroom owner and ask him if he can identify the person in that photo, the showroom owner is shocked to find that it’s the stranger who had placed the magical order and asks those three people curiously if everything is fine. The Showroom owner is told that the stranger was a mentally challenged person and had escaped from the hospital recently and they have been trying to fetch him.
Finding it hard to digest the twist the showroom owner gets to his home in the evening to realize that the stranger has actually been the savior, he thinks that if it wasn't for the stranger his wife wouldn't have bought the jewelry and the jeweler’s wife wouldn't have bought the furniture and the town would have never come back to life again. The showroom owner next day wakes up to a new and positive morning to contribute his part to rebuilding the town
Moral of the story to me is that if all of us contribute to the society we live in to our best extent possible either by buying goods or educating people around us on how to spend effectively, I am sure we will get out of the crisis sooner than later
We can win TOGETHER
