Vision, Mission & Passion

A slight pressure on your wrist, a small push to the gate and you enquire “Sir! May I come in” Two highly motivated and visionary eyes signal you in affirmation and you are in Mir Ahmed Ali Khan’s cabin. He owns a tall and handsome personality. From a very humble beginning in 1990, he has steered Softline Software Services Pvt. Ltd. to an Indian MNC.

I was campus placed in Focus (it is more famous as) five years back. I have known him since then, and every time I have walked in his cabin, I have learnt a new lesson, something worth a million dollar. Nothing much has changed other than two things: his chair and the painting behind him with the following words inscribed in full length:

The woods are lovely dark and deep,

but I have promises to keep;

and miles to go before I sleep…

and miles to go before I sleep…

His restless finger keeps punching replies to the ideas from the other side of the digital world while he listens to you. I have noticed that with every sentence he types, he backspaces three characters. On one visit, I asked him what exactly makes him so passionate about Focus? I also enquired that whenever I have met him I found him with only one approach, “Tell me what exactly you have with you for Focus?” or “The intent with which you have came here, how much Focus will gain from it?” He looked directly into my eyes, and with some amount of fear in my heart I started recollecting myself. With a smile on his face, that painted relief on my soul, he replied. “See Sajid, I am focusing on Focus, so it’s like, Speak Focus, Eat Focus, and Breath Focus. Now since the two identities, Ahmed and Focus has diluted so much that Ahmed is Focus and Focus is Ahmed”.

This was an amazing lesson that I learnt from him. During MBA I have read about Vision and Mission, but now I have learnt that along with Vision and Mission, you need Passion. A Passion to Excel, a Passion to Exceed, a Passion to know no boundaries which your heart and mind has limited you to. Passion in whatever you do, whatever you plan, whatever you intend will bring you success. My idea to spread these words around is to bring forth a real you. Let’s learn from Mir Ahmed Ali Khan, who has been a successful figure throughout.

(First published in Focal Point, February 2006 issue. Reproduced here with the permission of Mir Ahmed Ali Khan, MD Softline Software Services Pvt. Ltd.)

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