SHORT STORY: TEXTILE MERCHANT … know your strengths

Copyright@kamleshsujata1

By Kamlesh Tripathi

Once upon a time there was a merchant who used to deal in textiles. He used to live close to a port where ships used to dock and from whom he used to buy merchandise and sell it in his shop.

He had one manager and couple of employees who use to work under the manager. Each time a ship docked the merchant used to send his manager to get the details of the merchandise available, and basis the acumen of the manager and information collected, merchant used to buy the merchandise and the same used to get sold conveniently in the town.

One day the employees working under the manager came up to the merchant and started requesting for a higher salary on the plea that they work harder than the manager who only sat there and gave instructions while they did the entire work. The merchant gave them a patient hearing and promised to look into the matter.

One day the merchant received a communication from the dock that a ship had arrived loaded with textile. This time the merchant instead of sending his manager sent one of the employees working under the manager to find out about the merchandise that had arrived in the port.

The employee happily left for the port thinking the merchant this time had given him a chance to prove himself, instead of the manager. And after sometime he returned from the port when the merchant asked,

‘From which country has the merchandise arrived?’

‘I don’t know about the country master, but it is big ship with lots of merchandise.’

‘What kind of fabric do they have?’

‘I don’t know about that master, but there are big bundles, appearing to be thaans’  (bolts of fabric)

 ‘But are the thaans designed for children, ladies or gents?’

‘Master I didn’t ask about that. You want me to check again?’

‘Then tell me the price range of each thaan? Basis which I will be able to make out whether it is for ladies, gents or children?’

‘Sorry master I missed that too.’

‘And what about the total value of the merchandise?’

‘No idea master.’ Replied the employee somewhat embarrassed and staring at the floor.

Merchant looked at the employee pensively and said, ‘Few days back you and your fellow colleague both had come asking for an increase in salary, because you felt you work harder than the manager. This time I gave you an assignment of the manager thinking you will be able to at least equal what he does, if not out-perform him. Had I sent the manager he would have got all the details without my asking and perhaps he could have answered ten more queries of mine basis which I could have made my purchase decision.

Now to get all the relevant information in one go I will again have to send someone. So whom should I send this time?’ asked the merchant.

The employee looked up and politely replied, ‘the manager master.’

Before we expect a higher salary or consider ourselves appropriate for a higher position we must analyse how talented, skilled and knowledgeable we are about the assignment we are aspiring for. In this case while the jobs of employees had more of physical work the mangers job was to gather niche information about the merchandise that helped in making purchase decisions leading to sales, generation of revenue and profits.