The good are rewarded

Dear Mr Acton,While the rest of the world is going crazy about the $19 billion price that Facebook has paid to buy WhatsApp, the company you and your partner Jan Koum founded, a deal that will make you an instant billionaire many times over, I wanted to write to you about a completely different matter.And that is your strength of character and innate decency Mr Acton.My interest in the subject was inspired when I learnt that you had once been rejected for a job with Facebook. The piquant irony of that fact was brought home through a post by a tech insider who wrote ‘WhatsApp founder got turned down by Facebook for a job in 2009. Four years later Facebook pays $19bn for the decision’.But it was later when I read your actual tweet about that rejection in August 2009, that I was struck with admiration.‘Facebook turned me down. It was a great opportunity to connect with some fantastic people. Looking forward to life’s next adventure.’ What struck me right away is the positive, gracious and evolved manner in which you chose to deal with that rejection.Not only were you graceful about the people who had rejected you  (‘It was a great opportunity to connect with some fantastic people’). You also demonstrated great strength of character when you refused to let the rejection dampen your spirit or your enthusiasm (‘Looking forward to life’s next adventure’). This, said by the man who not only did not allow himself to be  crushed by the blow but merrily announced it to the world, and was moving on!Gosh Mr Acton, in a world where most people take the slightest hint of rejection to heart, that tweet revealed you to be a man of staggering reserves of emotional intelligence.What’s more, this candour, confidence and absolute refusal to be dejected was obviously hardwired in to your DNA, as another tweet of yours demonstrated so amply. This time it was after a rejection from Twitter: ‘ Got denied by Twitter HQ. That’s ok. Would have been a long commute.’  You tweeted on — where else  — but Twitter itself.I marvelled at how you managed to even find comfort from this rejection, (‘would have been a long commute’) all the time maintaining your rock solid belief in your sense and your great sang-froid.Here is a man who knows something about Life, I thought to myself when I read your admirable responses to rejection.Your story Mr Acton, is a morality tale, a lesson that inspires and edifies us in our modern world. Your actions say ‘Do not give up, do not allow the world to dampen your spirit, do not lose hope! There’s always something better-much better around the corner if you don’t lose faith.’But it is not only for your sense of confidence and optimism and your never say die spirit that I write to you:Every article about you and your partner Jan Koum, who founded WhatsApp along with you, mentions the fact that when Koum’s mother died of cancer in 2000 and the young Ukrainian was suddenly parentless, (his father had died in 1997) you made an effort to reach out to your then Yahoo colleague and make him part of your life. “He would invite me to his house,” Koum is quoted as saying, recalling many instances when you two went skiing or soccer or Frisbee.You didn’t have to do that. A few words of condolence and a few office lunches would have sufficed. But you reached out to another human being and made him feel special and cared for and not alone.That speaks of an enormous generosity of spirit and a sense of humanity.So for all these reasons Mr Acton, I commend you. For the strength of character, the graciousness you have shown in your rejections and defeats and the way you have been with other people.Enjoy your moment of success. These are the just deserts of a man who deserves not only $19 billion — but the respect of his fellow men!Yours sincerely etcMalavika SangghviThe writer believes in the art of letter writing