Discovering purpose and joy in a new field of work post retirement
An inspiring story of Shridharan Chittoor (Khyaal Community Member)
“My name is Shridharan Chittoor, and I am 78 years old. I hail from Chennai, erstwhile Madras. My mother tongue being Telugu, I gradually learned Tamil, English and Hindi in my childhood.
After school, I enrolled at the Institute of Leather Technology in Chennai and completed a degree in Leather Technology in 1968. I started my career with a British firm in Chennai. Later, I joined Tata Exports (Tannery) at Dewas, Indore, in 1974.
All the clients of Tata Exports were from France and Germany, so I eventually learned both French and German to communicate better with the clients. I got married in 1975, and my first son was born in 1976. My second son was born in 1983. I eventually had an opportunity to work in Kenya, making me the first person in my entire family to go abroad. I moved to Kenya with my wife and children. I was sent to Belgium for three months of orientation to understand latest technology. During that time, I also visited Germany, Italy, and Switzerland for a few weeks for further training.
Swahili is the local language in Kenya, and I soon picked it up to communicate with the local labourers. Gradually, I also moved to Uganda, Sudan, South Africa, and Nigeria, working for different companies, also picking up local languages.
At 66, I was very content with my finances, work, family, and social life. My elder son had completed school, and my younger son was in the ninth standard. So, I decided to return to my roots in India. We moved to Bangalore in 2015.
Although we moved back to India, I was in no mood to retire. One day, while reading the newspaper, I came across an advertisement for a seminar about work opportunities for senior citizens. I was curious and attended the seminar, where they introduced me to the insurance sector. I found it very interesting, and since I was proficient in many languages and had many contacts, I was advised that I would be a good fit. I decided to pursue this opportunity and became an insurance advisor with Max Life Insurance and later on moved to Kotak Life Insurance. When I decide to do something, I dedicate myself completely to it, so I approached this new field with enthusiasm.
In the first year, my commission was around Rs. 50,000, a promising start. In the insurance sector, there is a milestone called Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), which is a round-table conference that is conducted abroad, where only 1% of the total insurance advisors from India and abroad can qualify to attend. To reach this milestone, an insurance advisor needs to sell policies worth Rs. 30 lacs or earn at least Rs. 9 lacs in commissions in one year. I could achieve this milestone in my third year and attended a couple of conferences abroad, where I met top-notch advisors from different countries and learned the nuances of the trade.
Gradually, I expanded my work as a freelancer. I handled various types of insurance, including life insurance, health insurance, corporate insurance and motor insurance. I always conduct a need-based analysis of clients and pitch the appropriate insurance products for them. I am a very jovial person and always have a smile on my face, which, along with my communication skills, helped me tremendously. Money was never my motivation; I viewed this work as a service to help others secure their lives and guide them to invest.
In my daily routine, I wake up at 5.30 am and, after my morning ritual, attend Khyaal sessions for yoga and meditation and other sessions as well, at least 4-5 times a week. After breakfast, I start calling clients from 10:30 am to 1 pm, followed by lunch and rest. I resume calling clients in the evening and maintain a detailed diary of all client interactions. I follow up regularly and never miss a call. I attend client meetings often, and I never return empty-handed—I am usually able to close a deal.
In the evenings, I like to spend time with my wife. I also love cooking, which I do every day to give my wife rest, as she manages our finances. Thankfully, our health is in good condition, and we enjoy life together. I also maintain an active social life and plan to continue working for at least another ten years. I believe that patience and perseverance take you a long way.
One piece of advice I would like to give my fellow seniors is that life is God’s gift. Live in the present and enjoy it to your heart's content. Spend some of your earnings on yourself and don't save everything for your children only. Give them the freedom to make their own lives.” - Shridharan Chittoor (Khyaal Community Member)