At the time, I had nothing to introduce myself with except being an alumnus of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. No work experience. No professional qualifications. Just a desire to start a new journey, though I had no idea how.
It was during this uncertain period that my brother-in-law, Malan, recommended me for an interview with Mr. Dinesh Schaffter, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected business leaders. The role was for his Personal Assistant.
I still remember walking into his office that day with an empty mind, unsure of what to expect. I waited for hours before he spoke to me. During that time, I quietly observed him, the way he worked, the way he spoke to others, the way he carried himself. It was a lesson even before the interview began.
When he finally turned to me, he asked a few general questions, but nothing that suggested I was being seriously considered. Then came the question that would change everything:
“What do you want to be?”
Without hesitation, the words slipped out of me:
“I want to be you.”
For the first time that day, he stopped what he was doing, looked me straight in the eye, and held that gaze for a few seconds. Then he simply said:
“Come to work tomorrow.”
That was it. No discussion about the nature of the job. No talk about salary or benefits. Nothing. I didn’t ask either. I just showed up the next day, ready to work, ready to learn.
Working under Mr. Schaffter became the real university of my business life. He exposed me to every corner of business, HR, tax, logistics, finance, operations. More than that, he taught me how to think, how to stay steady in the face of challenges, and how to carry myself with confidence.
It wasn’t always easy. There were moments I felt like giving up. But there were more moments when I knew I had to hold on. Because every challenge was shaping me for the future.
And that’s the lesson I want to share. Opportunities don’t always come when or how you expect them. Sometimes they appear without certainty, sometimes even when you feel unprepared. But if you seize them, embrace the challenges, and commit to learning, they can change the entire course of your life.
So to every young person reading this, don’t be afraid of where you start. Don’t wait for the perfect plan. Sometimes, all it takes is one answer, one decision, one moment of courage… to change everything.
