SSB - A gateway to be a #MadeofGreat

We all come in contact with a fantastically large number of people during the course of our lives. Many we don’t remember and some we do. Only once-every-gazillion years, do we encounter someone who really leaves a lasting impression. Someone who is #madeofgreat.

Here comes my experience with such a person. It happened at my first ever Defense Interview for Indian Navy. (By the way, Rs. 750 worth Amazon gift voucher is waiting for you at the end!)

After clearing the preliminary examination conducted by Indian navy, I was asked to attend the Service Selection Board (SSB) interview at INS Agrani, Coimbatore. As soon as I got the interview call, I was so very happy and was jumping out in joy. Perhaps, it was just an interview call not an appointment call.

I got down at Coimbatore Junction and went out to see a huge crowd gathered near the gate. Just like every Indian, I pierced the crowd to see what it’s all about. To my astonishment, it was the selected group for SSB interview. I was absolutely petrified.

We hoped into a heavy duty army truck ‘Stallion’ and entered the most closely controlled military environment of Coimbatore, INS Agrani.

Basically, SSB interview has two rounds conducted for five days. First round runs for one day and second round runs for remaining four days. Boarding and lodging will be provided for all the candidates. Only the qualified person after round one get to stay there for the remaining four days to attend second round, if not they will be dropped at where they are picked, railway station.

After settling down, we were allowed to rest for the night. Next day is the big day, as it was the day of round one, consisting of written examination followed by picture perception test and group discussion.

We were seated in a huge conference hall for the examination. As you know, if there is huge crowd in a place it will be noisy in India. Be it a conference, lecture, workshop, market or anyplace for that matter, we have that special knack to make a quiet hall into an earsplitting one.

As we were busy chatting, a neat, orderly middle-aged person entered the hallway and reached the dais in a flash.

With a stern voice, he ordered the hall, 'Sit up, gentlemen. No crouching.'

Everyone raised to sit upright, calmly obeying his order. His words hit us in a brutal force. He made an impact in his very first shot.

'Work hard in silence, let your victory make noise,' he continued.

Work hard in silence, let your voice make the noise https://t.co/LLwWn1tYQr #madeofgreat #motivation #quoteoftheday— Gowthama Rajavelu (@gowthy87) November 22, 2015

There was a sudden stillness in the hall. He started explaining about the complete procedure in his own stylish-stern accent. His razor-sharp eyes was highly intimidating, not allowing anyone to have a say in a middle. He had an elegant body-language with confident gestures and expressions.

Listen, think and react is the first and ideal mantra to face the SSB interview. Speaking on that he said, 'We always react first, think about it and lastly listen to the consequences whereas it has to be done in the way around.' (I use this expression is most of my lectures, that's the kind of impact he marked in my life)

He was very expressive. He spoke to the point with clear and crisp words. Completing his instructions he said with a grin, 'You guys can copy in this examination.' Everyone was surprised to hear such a statement from an examiner and started smiling. Before everyone could jump out in joy he interrupted, 'If you are smart enough to fool these smartest men around you!' I looked around to see a dozen men looking just like him. Fair enough, I thought.

All his words were like a motivational quote. It just jolted our senses. It pushed us beyond our limits to strive for excellence. I realised one thing that quotes are not just said, it is experienced.

Quotes are not just said, it is experienced #madeofgreat https://t.co/LLwWn1tYQr Strive towards excellence with @TataMotors @RNTata2000

— Gowthama Rajavelu (@gowthy87) November 22, 2015

He is a Colonel, Group Task Officer (GTO) working with Indian Navy. He is man of excellence. He is a man with very high self-esteem. He is a man of confidence. He is not just #madeofgreat but is a #manofgreat. 

I was conference-out in INS Agrani but wasn't really let down by the results. I went in as a pretty-ordinary individual but came out as a positive and energetic person. 

I urge every individual aged below 24 to attend SSB interview at least once in their lifetime if at all you want to be a #madeofgreat. You will feel it!

---

Contest time

Answer the below simple question and win an Amazon gift voucher worth Rs. 750. Just be creative!

"What do you think of Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi?"

Pour in your answers as comments. Hurry up, last date is November 26, 2015!!!