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An association can change your life

If you have a second thought on involving yourself with association, I am writing this column for you.

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Swaminathan
New Update

There is always an overall opinion on having as association. Even though there is no second thought that associations are only for well-being and not to harm anyone, many entrepreneurs in the channel community question the necessity for them to indulge in an association. I find such an example within me during my earlier days.

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In the beginning, I was not regularly attending association's meetings since nothing inspired me. However, in course of time, I slowly started attend meetings whenever I felt jaded. I don't use to speak with anyone but I ‘enjoyed' only the dine and tours. During those periods, I used to observe few people and amongst them few attracted me and some didn't for no reasons. Whatsoever, I was noticed by none. 

In 2011, I was chosen as an Executive Council (EC) member from my association to Confed-ITA, without my knowledge and the designation did not make any difference within me and I remained an ordinary member. Maybe, the office bearers did not use me or I didn't allow them. In the meantime, I started writing and interacting through mail, whatever comes to my mind through our Confed's mail communication group. I would say that this activity had started interesting me. I started writing irrespective of thought whether people would read or reciprocate. However, slowly people started recognizing me whenever I use to be in the gatherings.

In 2012, I was given a post of Joint-Secretary in my parent association in Puducherry. Probably during that period, I started regularly attending all gatherings of Information Technology Traders Association- Pondy (ITTA-PDY) and somehow I started interacting with our fellow members. When an opportunity was given to me to speak I did not perform very well on account of my shyness. I happen to wonder at few people who are good at public speaking and very jovial with all and that I questioned myself I couldn't do the same. Apart from me being very shy, I never failed to do involve in some activities like wishing, greeting and thanking my brothers in the association. This had pulled attention towards me.

In 2013, I was chosen as secretary & EC of Confed-ITA once again. Today, I am very actively involving myself on all activities of my association and people have started identified me and I am able to mingle with them very well. Now I am gradually losing my shyness and I am able to talk boldly, even on the dais or in a huge crowd.

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I can come across many questions by the fellow members. Why should I become a member? Are we registered with the government? Will the government consider our demands? Will this association support me whenever I am in trouble? Am I going to receive anything from this group to improve my business profit? Brushing aside all these questions, I could loudly shout that my association gave me a platform to interconnect me to the apex association- Confed-ITA that is the reason for that I am today and for what I am thankful forever.

I am not very shy now. I am able to talk, a lot, I have improved my writing and speaking skills (I think so!), I have many friends in and around Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states, I had opportunities to visit various places through this association and meet new people and mingle with them, my self-confidence level has increased due to which I am able to do some good activities to our community.

I am very proud to be part of this network and I am doing something good for the community whatever possible way from my end. Apart from all individual personality developments through this group, many volunteers are already involving in activities for the goodwill of everyone and at the end of the day I am also going to be one of the beneficiaries.

If you are not going to make use of the available opportunity and learn to project yourself and to help the community, then you have no right to expect everything from others. Once you feel your confidence level has grown, what is stopping? Work along with the group and achieve everything and all the questions raised will be answered.

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If a ‘mute' member like me can become a columnist in an esteemed channel publication, why can't you?

D.SoundaraPandian is the Secretary of ITTA, Puducherry

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The DQ Week or any of the Cyber Media publications)

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