Farzeen Haseeb: The Small Potato with Big Dreams
Farzeen Haseeb: The Small Potato with Big Dreams
Sometimes the best employees come in the smallest packages. And sometimes, they walk in with a promise so bold, you can’t help but laugh—and then do everything you can to make it come true.
Between the time Rakshith rejoined and I fired the snake BDM, I was actively looking to hire associates for CRM and Support. The company was growing, and I needed people who could handle client relationships with care and attention.
That’s when Rakshith mentioned his classmate—Farzeen Haseeb.
The Tiny Kid with Big Confidence
After two weeks of coordination, Farzeen finally got the opportunity to escape her current work-from-home support job and come in for an interview.
I was in the office when she walked in—and I mean that literally. A tiny kid walked through the door with a mask covering her face. She removed it with practiced confidence and announced, “I am here for the interview.”
That confidence? It had been prepared beforehand, rehearsed with her best friend who always tagged along for moral support. But rehearsed or not, it was impressive.
I prefer walk-and-talk interviews. There’s something about moving, being outside, that makes conversations more natural and honest. So we took a short walk near the office while I explained the role, the company, and what we were building.
Then I asked the question that matters most: “What’s the reason for leaving your current place?”
The Unfair Deal
Her answer was telling.
“I have a work-from-home job, but it’s 9 AM to 9 PM, and I have to work on Sundays too,” she said. “That’s not the problem—I can work whatever is required. But they don’t even appreciate me.”
I asked about her salary. It was peanuts. Literally. The helper boys in our office earned more than what she was being paid—despite her having strong communication skills and a genuine willingness to learn and work hard.
It was an unfair deal, and I could see it clearly. Here was someone capable, eager, and undervalued. Someone just waiting for an opportunity to prove herself.
I saw that opportunity, and I grabbed it.
The 30-Year Promise
Before we wrapped up, I asked her, “How long are you planning to work here?”
She paused for a few seconds. It wasn’t a long pause, but it was deliberate. Then she looked at me and said, “Thirty years. I’ll work here for thirty years.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The boldness of it, the sincerity in her eyes—it was both endearing and impressive. Here was this tiny person making a massive commitment on day one.
We moved forward and made the deal. I offered her something better than what she had—not just in salary, but in recognition, in growth, in being valued. And I’ve kept growing her compensation over time as she’s delivered and as the company has grown.
I’ve never believed in the comparison and replacement theory when it comes to paying people. I pay based on how they deliver and how the company is doing. Fair is fair.
Wearing Many Hats
Farzeen has worn multiple hats during her time at SPURGE Rentals. She started as an Associate, moved into Operations (though, to be honest, she wasn’t great at it), then shifted to CRM and eventually became our Client Accounts Manager.
In that role, she’s thriving. Her communication skills—the very ones her previous employer failed to appreciate—are now her greatest asset. She handles client relationships with care, professionalism, and that same quiet confidence she walked in with on day one.
We call her by many names around the office: Golu, Chutki, Small Potato. The nicknames are endless because she’s become family. She’s the cutest and most pampered fluffball in our office—small in size, but absolutely massive in output.
Looking Forward
It’s been four years now, and Farzeen is still here. She’s grown in her role, grown in her confidence, and yes, she’s gained some weight too—no longer the skinny kid who walked in nervously with a mask on. She looks healthier, happier, more settled.
And I genuinely look forward to her completing those 30 years she promised. We’re only four years in, which means we have 26 more to go.
I’m counting on it, Farzeen.
The Takeaway
Farzeen’s story reminds me why I do what I do. It’s easy to overlook someone because they’re young, small, or seemingly inexperienced. It’s easy to undervalue people, overwork them, and underpay them—especially when they’re just starting out.
But when you give people a fair chance, respect their work, and pay them properly, they don’t just stay. They commit. They grow. They become integral to everything you’re building.
That tiny kid who walked through my door four years ago is now an essential part of SPURGE Rentals. And honestly? I can’t imagine the company without her.
Here’s to 26 more years, Small Potato. Let’s make them count.
Farzeen Haseeb — Client Accounts Manager, The Small Potato with Big Output, 4 Years Down, 26 to Go