1/ I just love professionalism. In whatever field it is displayed. Be it a man making a dosai or someone ironing clothes, or the CEO of a company.
There is something abt seeing a professional ay work that warms the cockles of my heart.
This is the story of one such person, Saqib.
There is something abt seeing a professional ay work that warms the cockles of my heart.
This is the story of one such person, Saqib.
2/ Saqib is a barber by profession. Last week, I had booked a barber through Urban clap to show up at 10:30 AM. He never did. When we called him up at 12:00, he said that he was with another customer and would reach at 1:00 PM. We had to cancel.With Saqib, the experience was diff
3/ He called up last night to confirm the place and time. We had asked for him to show up at 7:30 AM. At 7:25 AM, the bell rang. I saw an immaculately dressed gentleman with a strolley, standing outside.
"Thank you for showing up on time", I said.
"You are welcome", he replied
"Thank you for showing up on time", I said.
"You are welcome", he replied
4/ I asked him if he needed newspapers to set on the floor.
"I have my floor sheet Sir", he said.
He then opened his strolley and I tell you, a surgeon would have been proud of the way things were stacked inside. Little compartments with everything beautifully arranged.
"I have my floor sheet Sir", he said.
He then opened his strolley and I tell you, a surgeon would have been proud of the way things were stacked inside. Little compartments with everything beautifully arranged.
5/ He took out the instruments of his trapped and clipped on things to his belt, pulled on a pair of gloves and he was ready to go.
"How would you like your hair done Sir?", he asked.
I told him. He then got started and after doing the sides and back, stopped and asked me...
"How would you like your hair done Sir?", he asked.
I told him. He then got started and after doing the sides and back, stopped and asked me...
6/ "Is this fine, Sir?"
In the meantime, we got talking. "So how long have you been doing this?", I asked.
"2 Years Sir", was his response. "2 Years with Urban Clap"
"And before that?"
"I had my own salon but had to shut it down".
"Yes, the COVID years hv bn tough", I said.
In the meantime, we got talking. "So how long have you been doing this?", I asked.
"2 Years Sir", was his response. "2 Years with Urban Clap"
"And before that?"
"I had my own salon but had to shut it down".
"Yes, the COVID years hv bn tough", I said.
7/ Silence reigned for sometime. I was intrigued though, and asked him.
"But how long have you been in the hair cutting business?"
"Oh about 7 years", he said. Then, after a pause, he continued, "I used to work for a company in Delhi, as Zonal Manager for the South".
"But how long have you been in the hair cutting business?"
"Oh about 7 years", he said. Then, after a pause, he continued, "I used to work for a company in Delhi, as Zonal Manager for the South".
8/ Seeing the quizzical look on my face in the mirror, he continued, "I was obsessed with hair cutting Sir. I would give myself, haircuts."
"How on earth did you cut the hair at the back of the head on your own?", I asked.
He laughed and then said...
"How on earth did you cut the hair at the back of the head on your own?", I asked.
He laughed and then said...
9/ "I used to give haircuts to my family members. It was my wife who told me that if I loved it so much, why don't I get trained professionally? So that's what I did!"
I threw a silent nod of appreciation to his life partner!
"So do you work on all 7 days?", I asked.
I threw a silent nod of appreciation to his life partner!
"So do you work on all 7 days?", I asked.
10/ "No Sir. I work only half a day on Friday because I go for Namaz in the afternoon. Otherwise I work all the other days. It is a passion Sir. When I cut hair, I forget to eat. Yesterday, I didn't eat till 5:30 PM because I was so engrossed in the my job".
11/ "I can see your passion and I am sure you will be successful", I said feebly.
"It is with blessings of elders like you and God's blessings Sir. I hope to do well".
"Do you have kids?", I asked.
"A 11 year old boy, Sir", he said.
"It is with blessings of elders like you and God's blessings Sir. I hope to do well".
"Do you have kids?", I asked.
"A 11 year old boy, Sir", he said.
12/ By then, he was done.
"Do you want a newspaper sheet to collect all the hair?", I asked.
"Please give me a full newspaper Sir", he said.
I gave him one and left him to clean up. When I came back, I saw him having cleaned up and rolled the paper into a tube like this:
"Do you want a newspaper sheet to collect all the hair?", I asked.
"Please give me a full newspaper Sir", he said.
I gave him one and left him to clean up. When I came back, I saw him having cleaned up and rolled the paper into a tube like this:
13/ He then pulled out a vaccum cleaner from his strolley and vaccumed the part of the room in which he had plied his trade.
As he was leaving, he asked:
"I hope you are satisfied with my service, Sir".
"Very much so", I said, trying to hide the choking in my voice.
As he was leaving, he asked:
"I hope you are satisfied with my service, Sir".
"Very much so", I said, trying to hide the choking in my voice.
14/ As he stepped out, he noticed that the newspaper-wallah had thrown the newspaper on the shoes that he had left outside. He picked it up, did the Indian gesture of touching his fingers to it and to his eyes, and then handed it to me. I did the same.
I gave him a gr8 recco.
I gave him a gr8 recco.
15/15
Sometimes you meet people who show you wt dedication, passion and professionalism is all about. I am glad I got a chance to meet Saqib today. I gave the YO an impromptou lesson as well & told her to always remember him and try & be like him.
Thanks Saqib for making my day!
Sometimes you meet people who show you wt dedication, passion and professionalism is all about. I am glad I got a chance to meet Saqib today. I gave the YO an impromptou lesson as well & told her to always remember him and try & be like him.
Thanks Saqib for making my day!
15a/15a
And here he is vaccuming the place.
And here he is vaccuming the place.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
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