Tuesday, November 17, 2015

#madeofgreat Jeffrey Archer

Every person has a unique, sensational story in his/her life which is just waiting to be told and his / her dedication, passionate living transforms that story into a mind-blowing , grand novel.

Novels : Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less . Shall We Tell the President?, First Among Equals, A Matter of Honour , As the Crow Flies, Honour Among Thieves, The Fourth Estate, The Eleventh Commandment, Sons of Fortune, False Impression, A Prisoner of Birth, Paths of Glory.
Kane and Abel, The Prodigal Daughter , 
Prison diaries : Hell- Belmarsh , Purgatory - Wayland , Heaven - North Sea Camp .
Short Stories / Collections : A Quiver Full of Arrows , a Twist in the Tale , Twelve Red Herrings , The Collected Short Stories , To Cut a Long Story Short , Cat O'Nine Tales , And Thereby Hangs a Tale , The New Collected Short Stories
Clifton Chronicles : Only Time Will Tell , The Sins of the Father , Best Kept Secret , Be Careful What You Wish For , Mightier Than the Sword ......

And still counting ... I mean writing... The literary Gems ... Kohinoors by Legendary  #madeofgreat Sir Jeffrey Archer.

Exceptional Talent, grueling hard work, sacrifice, passion, dedication, discipline and much more are the driving forces for #madeofgreat Uber Smart Author ,  Sir Jeffrey Archer

MARCH 7 , 2011 .... I was checking emails and suddenly I caught the glimpse of an email by e-Bay

Dear Sujata , 
Congratulations !
You are the winner of the 'Jeffrey Archer contest' organised by e-Bay on Facebook.
Please email us your contact details so that we can courier you the prize . 

March 8, 2011 ( 8 a.m. ) ... I was almost ready to step out for a 'Women's day conference' and my mobile buzzed.
 It was Bhavana from e-Bay. "Good Morning Sujata, Congratulations. I have received your contact details. Will you be able to reach Trident (Oberoi ) within an hour ?. We have a surprise for you." 

"Good Morning Bhavana, Thank you so much for your wishes. I am extremely sorry but I have already r.s.v.p.ed for a Women's day conference, so I won't be able to go to Trident. If you don't mind, may I know , what's the surprise? " - I

" I know, it's such a short notice as we were trying to connect with his PRO. The surprise is 'The Jeffrey Archer'. If you can make it to Trident within an hour, you can personally interact with Mr. Jeffrey Archer. Would you like to come ?.

.........The Jeffrey archer ? Did I hear it right ? Or was I day-dreaming it ? Or ? ....

"Hey Sujata, are you there ? Can you hear me ? Will you at least give it a try ? " - Bhavana was almost screaming frantically at the other end.

" Yes, Yes, YESSSSSS Bhavana. I am coming, Right Now, Right There"- I.

How can I go empty-handed to meet my Idol, My Motivator , My Guru Dronacahrya , from whom I learned like Eklavvya. My father had this gorgeous coffee-table book full of enchanting, alluring Aerial photographs by Shri Uddhav Thackeray " Forts of Maharashtra ". This book is my father's prized possession but when I requested saying " I wish to gift this to the one and only living Legend Sir Jeffrey Archer " , My father wrapped the book aesthetically and offered it to be gifted to Sir Jeffrey Archer.

Ms. Deepa Thomas and the photographer of e-Bay welcomed me warmly at The Trident ( previously known as Oberoi ), she requested me to have a cup of coffee before we proceeded to Sir Jeffrey Archer's suite. I denied saying, "Let's hurry up, or we will lose appointment-time that's assigned to us". Deepa calmed me down saying " Right now, Sir is busy with TOI-journalist, so let's have coffee". I wished to die at that moment and reborn as that TOI-journalist, right there. 

To cut the long story short, finally we reached at Sir's suite and rang the door-bell. Can you make a wildest guess , who opened the door?.... Instead of wishing him "Namaste Sir" , We just stared at him , with wide-star-struck-eyes. He looked amused at our childish response and taking the lead, invited us in his suite. 




Once we settled in, Deepa introduced me as the winner of 'Jeffrey Archer' Contest and continued how tough it was to select the winner from hundreds of right entries. Sujata won cause we loved her slogan.
"Congratulations, young lady. what do you do ? How do you know so much about me to win the Pan India contest ? - Sir 
"Namaste Sir. Basically I am a journalist ... no basically I am computer-programmer ...no actually I am a commerce graduate" - I stammered.
"Please make up your mind, lady. What are you really ?" - Sir was being sarcastic ?

"Actually sir, I am all of the three put together. I learned Commerce and Computer Management, side-by-side. Plus I worked as a part-time-lab-assistant in the computer institute to pay my fees. After gaining B.Com.Degree + Diploma in Computer management, I worked for the World-bank project IPP-V (10 am to 5 pm ) I have a huge respect for Journalism so I learned Mass Communication ( Journalism ) from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm, in addition to my full time job ". I answered breathless and added, " I stood 1st in Journalism at XIC". 

By now, Sir's forehead had acquired few more creases and eyes had narrowed to slits. " You are sounding like one of the heroine from my books. Well done. Do all the Indian ladies work so hard or only the journalists ?, I was talking to another journalist who had almost similar story as yours and he faced more hardships as he was from rural India". - Sir.

"Thank you very much Sir. Indian ladies do work harder to learn, to realize their dreams and it's much more harder to achieve higher education in rural India." - I continued " Sir, Whatever may be the hardships, we Indians are the luckiest to have the most loving, caring and supportive MOTHERS and sisters who encourage, motivate, inspire us to aim high , to ascend to the dream-summit. Sir, may I ask who was your biggest motivator, guide to transform you into such an Adroit author, a living legend?".

 With eyes twinkling like stars and a dazzling dimpled-smile ( did you notice Mother-Daughter in the same sentence ) Sir softly answered " My Mother, so you may say we British too have Mothers, which are soul-sisters of Indian Mothers. And my latest motivator is an Indian, the  #madeofgreat Sachin Tendulkar. Period."
And here, at this surprising revelation, I would like to take a break, Cause I can write the whole novel about what happened in those awesome two hours, when we were with  #madeofgreat Sir Jeffrey Archer.



 I got an autographed copy of his latest novel " ONLY TIME WILL TELL " at TRIDENT , MUMBAI. I will cherish that REVITALising MOMENT .... FOREVER. Whatever Sir talked about his life, his mother, his teachers, his work-habits, his disciplinary-schedule, his hobbies etc. made a lasting impression on me. I vowed to follow in his footsteps then and there.  The above picture represents another prize I won after reciting my story of meeting Sir Jeffrey Archer in person. My dear reader, With all my heart, I wish you all the best for getting the opportunity to meet you Idols , your Heroes , Heroines ... soon.

Courtsey IndiBlogger Website : The  #madeofgreat campaign is the 1st time Tata Motors is undertaking an overall brand association campaign with a brand ambassador. It rides on a strong consumer motivation of 'Seeking Excellence' and 'selfBelief' which is showcased by the confluence of two global brands- Tata Motors and Lionel Messi. The Campaign builds upon Tata Motors' DNA of trust, authenticity, reliability , simplicity as well as it's commitment to innovation. Lionel Messi is talent galore with conviction and is an icon for today's youth. He is a winner who is trustworthy, reliable , pioneering , simple and driven by self-belief, which is what is at the core of Tata Motors as well. Thus proving to be an ideal fit for the role of Global Brand Ambassador.



My Dear Readers, here's an exciting contest for you by Tata Motors. Rs. 750/- Amazon voucher for the Best Comment , which answers :
" What do you think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi ?"

48 comments:

Unknown said...

Jeffrey Archer, wow! What a writer. I remember those days I spent reading them in succession without taken ng a break. I almost read all of the novels. Was excited to read the narration as much as you were.

Maybe we can call this association of Messi and Tata motors as amalgamation of two greats in their respective fields, icons of the respective countries to give that much needed boost of expertise to us and the world.

Best
Katie
Admin
Http://chennaifocus.WordPress.com

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Hi Katie. Thanks and Nice to share our favorite author / books.

Poonam Khanduja said...

A great account of having met a legend, Sujata. A true fan-girl moment for you. Nice to know about your many favorites from the literary world. :)

As for the expression of views towards the question, I would like to answer through a stanza or two of verse:



‘What drives us from within is what makes us great’
Belief in oneself, the zeal to put up a brave face,
In the face of adversity, to stand strong against fate,
That’s how life is – it’s an excellent goal to chase!

To create a name for oneself, from the soil your feet dampen,
To let critics enhance your effort, not let your spirits dampen,
It’s the journey that counts, more than having scaled the peak,
To persevere so that it’s your actions that have the loudest shriek!



To sum up, I feel that this age old adage rings true whenever I think of this beautiful alliance of an Indian Global Brand – Tata Motors and a Global Argentinian Sportsperson – Lionel Messi

“Our Similarities bring us to a common ground; Our Differences allow us to be fascinated”

That realization is truly #madeofgreat. :)

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Hi Poonam, Thanks and Welcome to " Spirit Of Mumbai"

Betuke Khyal said...

Ah, Jeffrey Archer ! Good post and one can sense the delight you got out of the meeting you had with Sir Archer.

As for the question on association of Tata Motors with Lionel Messi, I have following comments to offer:

Tata Motors and Lionel Messi match each other as they both combine the virtues of excellence and finesse, and in the process, set new benchmarks in their respective fields.

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Ashwini Kumar and Welcome to " Spirit Of Mumbai "

Online Shopping said...

First of all thanks "Jeffrey Archer" I spent reading them in succession without taken ng a break. second thanks Sujata share this Post!!

Regards
Hazel

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Hazel and welcome to " Spirit of Mumbai ".

Sunita Sriram said...

I am going scarlet with envy Sujata...what a treat to meet the one and only Jeffrey Archer...with the add on a coveted prize!

Messi a true 'messiah' for Tata motors and Tata, a colossal brand to power Messi up! Both in perfect harmony!

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Hi Specs Buffy , Welcome to 'Spirit Of Mumbai' . Indeed it was an unique once in a gazillion years opportunity to meet n interact with Sir Jeffrey Archer. Thanks.

Gauri said...

Oh wow! I won't hesitate to say I envy you! So glad you met The Jeffery Archer.

As for my thoughts on Tata Motors association with football great Lionel Messi, both are well established brands BOLTing ahead of competition which is an INDICAtion of their ZEST for reaching the upper echelons of success by exhibiting constant zeal from the word (INDI)GO.

Do hop over to my blog and share your thoughts on my post

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Gauri and I know how much you too love book & author so it's alright to envy.

Adicrazy said...

Loved this post, Sujata. I met Mr. Archer once and I am a lifelong fan. Not participating in the contest, just wanted to tell you how much I loved this one! :)

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Hi Aditi , Welcome to ' Spirit Of Mumbai '. Oh ... WOW ... so you met Sir Jeffrey Archer , was not that d once-in-a-lifetime MOMENT. Thank you so much for appreciation.

Gauri said...

:)

Unknown said...

Oh wow! What an opportunity, for an Eklavya to meet his Dronacharya! I've read a lot of books of Sir Jeffrey too, and so really enjoyed reading your post. And the book you gifted him, my dad was gifted one of those, and its an amazing gift for sure!
As far as Tata and Messi are concerned, I just have one thing to say, when Durability meets Excellence, the only way is ‘Forward’!

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thank you so much Leena for understanding the significance of Guru Dronacharya and Eklavya. Glad to know , that we have so much in common about books , authors and Forts of Maharashtra.

Hema said...

Nice Post.. :-) Coming to the answer:

Not all the man are reaching the peak in life. Lionel Messi did it. Not all the companies are attracted by the customers. Tata motors achieved it. So, how about the collaboration between them? Their match becomes so perfect. How many same characteristics? Perseverance, hard work, simple, gentle and so on. Hence, they both are #madeofgreat.

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Hema.

Canary said...

You are so fortunate Sujata! Many congratulations on meet Mr. Archer and for winning the contest! Truly envious for your good fortune :) But extremely glad for you!
On what I think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi, well I think that they are very fortunate too, of having the fabulous opportunity of partnering with Messi! Messi is a rockstar ! And his perfection matches perfectly with the strong work ethic and integrity of Tata!

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Dear Canary , Welcome to ' Spirit Of Mumbai ' . Thanks for your wishes.

maheshsowani said...

Tata Motors and Messi compliment each other like aloo does to Samosa. Tata Motors and Lionel Messi have many things in common.Firstly both of them have highly credible performance record. Secondly they are both made of great material. Indeed there couldn't have been any other brand ambassador than Messi for Tata Motors. Visit my post as well http://maheshsowani.blogspot.in/2015/11/stream-of-happiness.html

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Hi Mahesh , Thanks and welcome to " Spirit Of Mumbai "

RioZee said...

Well, I thought I had read your blog post, but I had missed in the jumble: Sir Jeffery Archer has been my favorite one and I adore his creations which are just penultimate. I just envy you now.

Speaking of Lionel Messi I have to reiterate that it is Tata Motors luck to have him on board their cause and a sane ultimate decision which will surely prove to take their brand value to new heights that they dream to achieve. Kudos.

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Welcome to ' Spirit Of Mumbai '. Thanks a lot for making time to read.

Manisha Topale said...

Hi Sujata,

I could feel your happiness in each word you wrote about Jeffrey Archer. Your post is as inspiring as you personally inspire me every time we meet. :)

Interesting question about Tata Motors - popular brand of Indian auto industry. Tata Motors have provided best vehicles for Indian roads. And about Messi, he is a youth Icon, my son is great fan of him. We will definitely see tremendous growth in popularity of Tata Motors with the association of legend Messi .

Arun Koundinya said...

Thanks Sujata, for sharing this post. Certainly it is indeed motivating :).

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Manisha for Inspiring compliment.

SUJATA TAWDE said...

ThanksArun . Welcome to "Spirit Of Mumbai ".

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Shilpa.

Wandering Surgeon said...

awesomely wriiten! Jeffrey Archer...phew!
Tata Motors represent India. Tata is associated with reliability, performance and strength of automobiles. Similarly Lionel Messi represents football. He stands for reliabilty, performance and strength of his football team.
http://dudekgmc.blogspot.in/ 

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Welcome to "Spirit Of Mumbai" , Dr. Manoj. Thanks.

Ghazala said...

Nice post , Its great that your dream came true.
answer to the question
Tata Motors is a brand which is one of its kind , Trustworthy and innovative .
Lionel Messi is a Legend and youth icon , a person who is extra ordinary talented ,energetic , confident & dedicated to his profession .
So association of Tata motors and Lionel Messi is a Great Thing as both of them does not know tiredness and are committed to their brand value .This collaboration would definitely give an edge to Tata Groups over its competitors as the brand ambassador Messi hold the reputation of not letting down his fans as Tata motors has given the best to the world.
Tata motors have touched heart of middle class by bringing Tata Nano to market so that a common man can fulfil the dream of owning a car . And Messi is an inspiaration and Idol for many .So this collaboration will definitely strike Gold !!

my email ID ghazli10saba@gmail.com

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Ghazala . Welcome to ' Spirit Of Mumbai '

KickUpstairs said...

Tata Motors has earned the goodwill from giving the best and innovative Automobiles and it is also known as one the best Automobile Manufactures. And if you see the Lionel Messi , his throughout dedication, zeal , targeted goal of life and technically soundness make him big, achiever and remarkable position in the world.
As per me, the association of Tata Motors and Messi is a grand amalgamation of two legendary entities of the world, and their amalgamation will definitely break down the clutters and affect the cut throat competition of Tata Motors. Tata motors will sure get a huge preference by the fans of Messi. This will sure make a record of Tata motors in the world of production or may be the highest selling automobiles.
Tata motor’s main target is to give an impression on the large amount of crowd and this can be achieved only through the Messi, because the youth generation is crazy for MESSI and this can be smart move and a great achievement for Tata Motors they positioned MESSI as their BRAND AMBASSADOR .

In the nutshell, Tata Motors , Messi joining hands will definitely give more soundness in technicality of promotional strategies and Messi’s influence will influence the audience for choosing Tata Motors and expand the business drastically.

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Bhawna , Welcome to " Spirit Of Mumbai "

Anonymous said...

great post Sujatha! and a different one too...

Then, here’s my answer for the legendary assioction between Tata Motors and Lionel Messie:

Tata motors being the first Indian brand to associate itself with an international sports icon is truly being envied!. Yes! When two people with identical qualities merge, the brand power increases enormously. Just as expected Tata Motors is tasting it by the reach and vibrations it has created with its association with Lionel Messie.

With both’s determination, dedication and power to conquer in their respective fields- their collaboration is surely a big hit and #madeofgreat indeed

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks jeydv. Welcome to 'Spirit of Mumbai'

alok said...

Hi Sujata
wow what a post and what an experience it would have been
Indeed a nicely written post. I wish you good luck for the contest
Here is my answer
The association of Tata Motors with Lionel Messi is that of two greats. Lionel Messi has been exceptionally talented who with his hard work, determination and sacrifices has got better and tougher in his chosen sport so is the Image, reputation and quality of TATA Motors that have transformed brilliant ideas into masterpieces of engineering and created a brand and products that we are so proud of as Indians. Lionel Messi has transformed his body and the mind body co-ordination into a masterpiece of precision and excellence it would not be wrong to say that Lionel Messi is the TATA Motors of sports where as TATA Motors is the Lionel Messi of vehicles both giants in their own spheres driven by the drive to excel and lead by example. So Lionel Messi is the best choice for becoming the brand Ambassador for TATA Motors
aaloke19@gmail.com

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Alok . Welcome to "Spirit of Mumbai".

Mahima said...

Your post defines #madeofgreat to the hilt. Goodluck for the contest
My answer is:
Authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation are the pillars of strength on which TATA have built a brand that has put India on the global map. It is a brand that has stood the test of time just like Lionel Messi who tackles opposition on the field with his skill,agility,strategy,brilliance and raw power to reach and score a goal so has been the track record of TATA motors who has become a brand leader and a global giant. These qualities make TATA Motors and Lionel Messi perfect partners who stand for the same set of values thus Lionel Messi is the perfect brand ambassador to represent TATA Motors.
Hope my best to be a winner here; do contact me for the prize at mahima2014j@gmail.com
fingers crossed

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Mahima , Welcome to " Spirit Of Mumbai "

Unknown said...

Your post describes #madeofgreat so well that it has winner written all over it. Good luck for your entry.
Here is my answer.
Like minds think and act alike looking at the track record of TATA Motors it has stood the test of time and built a business that was built using bricks of hard work on a foundation of trust. Authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation are the trademarks of brand TATA Motors. These same qualities are present in Lionel Messi who with his immense talent has made a mark for himself on the international football field .Facing all hardships he has worked hard toiling on the fields and in training sessions facing injuries and pressure to come out trumps and be a winner. Thus these two greats Lionel Messi and TATA Motors are made for each other .There association is a bond of two legends
In case you pick me a winner my email id is : princess09hema@gmail.com
Fingers crossed :)

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Hema , welcome to "Spirit Of Mumbai"

Yagnesh Joshi said...

Yours is a very well written post your .Its is a very nice description of #madeofgreat
TATA Motors is a brand associated with performance, endurance and excellence. These words are also synonymous with Lionel Messi who plays as a forward and weaves his magic on the football field.Just as Lionel Messi is considered the best footballer in the world ,TATA motors which is Indias premier automotive manufacturer gives wheels to the people of India with its wide range of vehicles. Both believe in excelling in whatever they do and set examples for others to follow. They compliment each other as both are reliable trustworthy and leaders thus Lionel Messi is the natural choice as the brand ambassador of TATA Motors
yagneshbjoshi10099@gmail.com

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Thanks Yagnesh , Welcome to " Spirit Of Mumbai "

Ananya said...

Wow am sooo jealous... Congrats dear this is HUGE !
Keep writing and keep winning <3

SUJATA TAWDE said...

Good Morning Ananya. Thanks a lot for your warm wishes. I am glad we both have same honor for the legendary author Sir Jeffrey Archer.