Ram’s Story: Help Is Always an Arm’s Length Away
- Harinath K
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Harinath
Strategy & Growth – Reliance Retail; EI Outlook Editor
We all know someone like Ram.
Bright. Ambitious. Thoughtful. But unsure at times—like all of us.
Life doesn’t always give us the roadmap we need. Sometimes, we stumble. We wait for a turning point. A lucky accident. A saviour. Ram’s journey teaches us something else: what if we didn’t wait?
1. Counselling – A Childhood Trauma That Stayed Quiet
Ram was in 4th standard when he was asked to read the morning news in school. It was in Hindi—a language he wasn’t confident in.
He froze on stage. Fumbled. His teacher scolded him in front of everyone. His legs shook. Another teacher tried to comfort him—but the damage was done. That one moment buried his confidence. He never stepped on a stage again.
Decades later, he realised what he really needed then was not criticism, but counselling—a safe conversation, a comforting hand, a voice that said, “It’s okay.”
Had someone just helped him process that fear, he might have embraced the stage instead of avoiding it for 30 years.
2. Life Coaching – When Silence Hurt More Than Noise
Ram’s first job was hard. His boss was toxic. The work hours were brutal. He stayed for three years, burning out in silence.
He didn’t seek help. He thought he had to “just endure.” It affected his health, his family, and his peace of mind.
Few year later, a life coach helped him unpack that phase. They spoke about boundaries, priorities, and asking for help. The coach helped Ram see how he had handed his power to others—unknowingly.
A life coach won’t solve your life. But they’ll help you see how to take control of it again.
Ram’s takeaway? Never wait for the breakdown to ask for help.
3. Mentoring – When Growth Felt Like a Question Mark
Years later, Ram was doing well in his career. Seven years into a stable job, with a supportive boss and a solid reputation.
But something didn’t feel right. The challenges had dried up. He feared becoming stagnant.
He met a mentor—a retired leader from a similar field—who asked him:"Are you looking for growth outside, or meaning inside?"
The mentor shared how, during his own plateaus, he found new problems to solve, new skills to learn. That kept him motivated.
Mentors don’t give answers. They reflect your own thoughts back—clearer, calmer.
Ram realised: he didn’t need a new job. He needed a new problem worth solving.
4. Career Coaching – Bridging the Generation Gap
Today, Ram leads a team spread across the country. He connects well with peers, but struggles with younger Gen Z team members.
They’re quiet, unresponsive unless prompted. He’s tried being friendly, strict, supportive—nothing worked. He feared a disconnect.
Then, two Gen Z employees in another team were removed for silly mischief like proxy attendance. When Ram saw them crying, it hit him:
"Do I really know my team? Will I know if they’re in trouble?"
He turned to a career coach.
The coach didn’t lecture. He asked Ram to flip the situation:
"Have you tried asking them for help? Showing them your vulnerability?"
So Ram tried. He told his team,
“I’m stuck on a problem—can you help me think through it?”
It worked. Slowly, trust was built.
Career coaching isn’t about giving instructions. It’s about unlocking others.
And the Best Part – Help Lives Among Us
Ram’s story is real. And it’s not rare.
We all carry our own versions of these phases—moments we could have navigated better, if only we had someone to guide us.
That’s why, in our EI community, we’re lucky.
We have certified coaches, mentors, counsellors, and professionals—who’ve offered to help. Whether you’re:
A mid-career professional at a crossroads
A working woman returning after a break
A student unsure of your next step
A parent trying to balance work and home
Or just someone who needs to talk
Help is just a conversation away.
These experts offer their time for a nominal fee—just enough to ensure commitment, not cost.
Don’t Wait for the Accident
Ram waited. Sometimes the help came. Sometimes it didn’t.
But now, he lives by this:
Help doesn’t always arrive by accident. Sometimes, you have to ask.
And when you do, you’ll realise—it was always just an arm’s length away.
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