My regular readers would know Milo Kotnala. He is the 7-year-old cute beagle who walked into our lives on 11th December 2017. And that was one of the best things to happen. This week, we are celebrating his birthday. He is a well-behaved traveller but also a constraint as we now travel by car or by 1AC train and are always searching for pet-friendly properties like SeleQtions by Taj. Milo kotnala is a smart walker, an emotional blackmailer, and a puppeteer while we are the puppet. He played a small part and can share the credit for increasing pet travel on trains, pushing for a pet icon on cab services, and doing away with the pet ticket one must buy at the luggage parcel office some hours before travelling on a train.
However, At times, in this cute relationship of interdependence, I am unsure who is the pet and the owner-pet parent. Moreover, whenever I look at his behaviour, it takes me down memory lane, and I remember a few friends, colleagues and family members.
Typically, there is no question about such things in a relationship of interdependence. People know who is eating out of whose hand. Who is the trained pet reacting with a Pablo effect? And who is the dominant partner? That is true of the client-agency, creative-client service, strategist-executor, and personal relationship.
My relationship with Milo KOTNALA is no different.
I was supposed to train him to obey the commands and help him behave. However, it’s not always the case. He is the prince of the house and dictates the terms. Milo decides what needs to be done and sometimes even when it needs or could be done. He does not wear a watch but has an uncanny sense of time. He would question looking at you with those dovely Ajay Devgan eyes if you are late for the walk. And in those times, he reminds me of Rahul Verghese of Motorola, who would not only schedule the start but also set the time for the end of the meeting. I remember once he moved out and returned after 11 minutes to start the meeting because we were 11 minutes late for a 30-minute meeting.
Beagle Milo Kotnala is very secular, inclusive, and selective. He gives everyone equal affection. He would ensure that he rubs everyone the right way, giving them time and making eye contact. But in the end, he would decide and define who would take him for a walk. It reminds me of clients asking for specific creative teams to work on the account. This was true for Reliance, Dainik Jagran and Dabur in a few cases. It is like dictating the terms. Who is the pet parent, and who is the pet? Please note there is no derogatory reference here but a figure of speech.
Milo is so invested in us- the family, he knows what works with each member and how to get whatever he wants. Is it cuddling to me, following my wife, or simply pleading with eyes? He has a different way of making everyone dance to his tunes. It reminds me of Sunil Sareen at ITC Welcomgroup, a client and brand I loved for the freedom it gave the agency- in fact, in one trip to Bangalore- I could upgrade A G Krishnamurthy at Windosr without asking for permission.
Sunil would start by appreciating the creative and slowly download his comments one element at a time. Trust me; the creative would eat out of his hand and accept all the comments. He would always make the creative feel that it is finally their decision, and he merely suggests a few tweaks – just like Milo makes us feel that his presence- choices and behaviour do not influence our decisions.
The chink in Milo’s armour – the energy treats. He would do anything for them. I sincerely think vets and the FSA should trace and control the ingredients that make pets treat junkies. Now, coming back – it reminds me of my client Shankar in Citibank. He was a cricket enthusiast. The trick for a great meeting during cricket season was to listen to the match commentary while waiting to be ushered in for the meeting. Then, start the meeting with match updates and comments. The business could wait and would be finished on time.
This is true for Milo, and I believe true for all beagles. They must smell every tyre, pole or bush on the way. Moreover, they decide where to go for the walk, and mostly, it is the other direction than where you want to go. It is my way or no way. At times I think that maybe he has taken after my way of being experimentative, poking my nose into more things than I can accommodate in life. However, he reminds me of Freddy and Naved at Mudra; they would rather do a new creative than change a comma or a full stop in their work.
The walk is not always so. On days when Milo is sweet to you, he walks like the most obedient ones, and it is usually when he walks back home to meet his pet mother. Then he is more than helpful; he is the most beautiful cutie friend you can have. At such rare moments, he reminds me of brilliant Denis Joseph, a client servicing person turned creative honcho. I remember, one afternoon, sitting in his Lintas Delhi office, he told me, ‘Clients are stupid, don’t worry, it is not your fault that you have been not able to sell the creative – but have sold the creative idea, expressions can change till will talking the same thing. Don’t worry, I will give you two more alternatives.
While on the walk, he does not have a rich awareness of his surroundings and is not bothered about the strays except two of them. The stray playfully surround my daughter, who loves caring for, feeding, and arranging their vaccinations and treatment during medical emergencies. He is clear that he has been outsourced to us. It is our problem. And that is the only time he makes us feel like pet parents and acts as a pet. It reminds me of Daljeet (this time, name changed), who would have an idea of the brand and ask the planning to retrofit and defend it in their presentation.
If I look back, how he has been reared reflects in his attitude and behaviour, the expanse of commands and things he understands, and how he communicates and makes the family bond together- makes him a family member and not just a pet.
Today, I understand and appreciate how and why Sunil Gupta at HTA could prioritise his pet’s health and treatment during a critical annual campaign meeting with a client. That day, in 1993 or 1994, when it happened, I was critical of his action- but today, I apologise to him because I would have done the same for Milo.
There is so much to decipher and learn from this behaviour and attitude. So, look at your relationship and check where they fit, who the pet is, and how confident- trustworthy- and dependable you are.
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