The Real Stars !

"Honesty" , was the reply. It came from a child, barely 10.

This was in response to a question we were discussing on what was one of the most important traits of an entrepreneur.

I promised Reza I will blog about him as a prize for the answer ! Here it is Reza. You are right, boy. Hold on to that and you will be just fine.

I did not know what I was getting myself into when I was informed by my wife that I was the first parent to do the sharing.

In conjunction with GEW, the Principal of the Tanarata International School (TiS), Mrs Guha has introduced a weekly sharing session by parents who are entrepreneurs.

The sharing session is a 10 minute slot at the morning assembly - where parents who run their own businesses will share with the kids about their life as a businessperson.

My kids go to this school. Lovely school - set amidst lush greenery in the southern part of KL.

Isn't this a cool idea? Mrs Guha, the principal of TiS is an extraordinary lady. The effort, passion and dedication she puts into ensuring the kids in this school grow up to be good citizens is a story by itself - perhaps a more prominent media should pick it up and write about her.

"Why are you such a drama artist?" - was Vani's question when I said I want to chicken out of the session. "They are only kids, tell them in simple terms what it is to be an entrepreneur, kids love you, just do it'...she urged me. I said, I am lost !

"WHY?" ! she asked, getting irritated with me. The fact that we were running late for the school was not helping either. The many meetings with potential partners during the day was also there - looming large !

Because, I feel R E S P O N S I B L E ! I want to say ONE thing where the child, 10 years from now will be able to say "this chap who spoke in my school, what he said, shaped my life" !

I wanted to create that impression - a positive impact for ALL Entrepreneurs ! It begins here!

Another concern - my kids were going to watch me speak, I don't want to make a fool of myself. They may not be happy with me - for about a week.

"Now, do you know why I am worried?" , I asked Vani ! I was setting the benchmark, once again.

We arrived just as the assembly was congregating. Mrs Guha announced my name as the parent who was going to share today. Everyone clapped, I took the microphone, and lost all words !

150 kids - 300 innocent eyes looking at me. All eager to know what I had to say.

I slowly began by asking a question - how many of your parents run their own businesses. Quite a few hands went up. I asked a few of them if they knew what their parents did, some did, many didn't. One answer was constant "they come home late" !

I am guilty of that too.

I then slowly began with a story of my school days - how I used to take the public bus to my school. The ride was 25 cents. My pocket money was 50cents.

One day what happened was, I paid my fair - I gave 30cents to the conductor but he did not have a 5 cents change. He asked me to hang on. I waited. But I could not wait much longer - my stop was approaching. I needed the 5 cents to be able to take the bus back home. This was the most torturous bus ride of my life.

"Go and ask now, he must have the change", the guy who sat next to me said.

I said, I was shy. What he said then to a total stranger blew my mind - and left a positive impression on me. He said "you have to always ask what is rightfully yours" !

Wow, to be able to ASK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS !

I never knew that. I always took what was given. How empowering.

I shared this story with the children, and mid-way, was choking with emotion. The kids went "woooooow"

From here, it was fun - they were engaged !

We spoke about the value of friendship, the importance of making friends, of knowing what we want, on being creative, an being human. We hardly spoke about making money. TO me, that will come later....they have to understand the value of people first.

Finally, a child asked, "did you get your 5 cents?" - I got the 5 cents and more importantly, was able to call this gentleman and ask him out for lunch. We have remained good friends ever since.

Finally, I summed it up with one advise to the kids : MAKE YOUR MARK !

You know what happened at the question and answer session - the Real Breakfast Grille. !

Thank You Mrs Guha. Hope the kids enjoyed it.

Not sure if they will ever remember "that chap", but I spoke from the heart. That to me is important. My kids let me off with a small reprimand - tell more stories next time ! Phew.