A Quiet Day with Chief
“Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal.”
- Elbert Hubbard
Rehaan was in his son’s school waiting for his turn to meet the teacher when a little girl of around eight years tapped him at the back and said, “Good morning uncle. Will you play a game with me?” As Rehaan smiled, the little girl asked, “Will you please tell me three good things and two not so good things you have done yesterday?”
Rehaan was surprised. He bent down and asked, “Why do you want to know?”
The girl answered, “Uncle you must play this game. My mom and I play this game everyday before we go to the bed.”
“But why do you play this game”?
“My mom tells me that this will help me to put my thinking cap on. I can talk to myself if I play this game. This way I will become the best girl in the school and every body will love me.”
That day Rehaan said to his Chief, “Chief, there is so much common between our life and this little girl’s story.”
“I agree Rehaan. Let me ask you now, do you still need me?” asked Chief.
“Why do you say so, Chief?” asked a surprised Rehaan.
“You are at the top today; the entire world is there to listen to you, to be there with you. You have reached your goal that you had set for yourself twenty years back. I am sure your achievement today is the dream for some and envy for many. During your journey, I have done what I was supposed to have done for you Rehaan. I was with you every moment. What more value can I add to you?”
“You are the one who will always add value to me and that is why I need you more today. In you, I find all my answers. I can see the world in a new light through you. I am never complete without you Chief. You are what I am. You are my inner-self; you are my self-conscience.
Whenever I was in two minds, I spoke to you and I got all my answers. You always helped me to understand a situation better. Do you think I would have reached this far without you?”
Chief kept quiet as Rehaan continued, “Who was I Chief? When I started, I was just a well-educated ordinary individual who had the ambition to reach the top. I was like any other professional. I was neither a scholar nor a genius but had the willingness to learn and the zeal to excel. Today if I have reached here it is simply because I always reflected on myself and took you as my guide and learnt from every incident, every interaction with people.”
“Yes I agree but….”
“Everyone has a Chief in himself but I wonder why most of the people fail to recognize that fact. That is why most of us do not even reflect back to learn from our experiences. I have done that and trust me, without you I would never have had so much today.”
“But today you know it all. You have reached the top and now I am sure you can be alone.”
“I needed you when I started my life, I need you even today when everyone feels that I have arrived in life. You are my reflection; I can speak the truth to you. Who can be a better teacher than your own surroundings, own experiences, own findings, own mistakes?
My life starts yet again for another journey Chief and I know it might be lonely at the top. Today if I have only one real friend, it is you. I do not think that I have achieved much as yet. It is just the start of a new beginning. I have so much to learn and so much to achieve. Be there with me always—my mentor.”
(Pages: 6-8)
“It reminds me about my aunt. My aunt was a homemaker. When my uncle passed away, she was 46. She was a graduate and worked in an accounting firm in her early days. However, after she was married to my uncle and had a baby, she had decided to quit her job to take care of her children. It was almost twenty years since she was a homemaker.
However, reality was bitter and after the sudden demise of my uncle, she needed to go back to a job. The children were still studying and she needed to support them. She started looking for a job but wherever she applied, she got a negative response. Every company wanted some one with computer knowledge, which she lacked.
You know what she did. She went back to classroom, learnt how to handle a computer before she managed to get a job. You will be surprised, today she is a big boss in her company and handles IT operations too,” said Rehaan.
“You are right Rehaan, if there is one thing that can help you attain glory that is positive attitude and she is a real example in your own family,” said Sundar.
In a few minutes, Sundar stopped the car at a roadside restaurant to grab a cup of coffee. As soon as they got down from the car, one young boy came running towards them and offered them a glass of water. It was a very small roadside shop. The boy was in all smiles and politely asked Sundar and Rehaan what they would like to have as refreshment.
Sundar asked for a cup of coffee as Rehaan said, “I am happy with this fresh air and some water.”
The boys attitude is so refreshing, there is something very positive about him, thought Rehaan. They left the place after Sundar finished his coffee but the impression of the boy remained in Rehaan’s mind. A positive individual.
“Sundar I am still thinking of that little boy. He was not educated, he was not well dressed but there was something in him, which I cannot forget. He is still in my mind. You were right, positivity spreads, and spreads quite rapidly.” Said Rehaan.
It was another hour before they reached Pondy. “So Rehaan, what have you decided to be? Happy and successful with a positive attitude or the other way?” asked Sundar while dropping Rehaan at his residence.
“Do I have a choice after such a wonderful drive?“ Said Rehaan and bid him good bye.
Rehaan’s diary:
Langbridge ‘Two men lookout through the same bars; One sees the mud, and one the stars.’
There are many Ibrahims in this world. The difference between them and others are the way they look at life. They are positive and hence they are obviously more strong minded than others are.We all can crib and cry about what is not happening to us, seldom realizing that it is we who have to make things happen.
When I think of that boy in the roadside stall, there was something around him. He might never even realize about the rareness in him. I am sure even no one might have ever appreciated the quality in him.
Those few minutes I will remember forever. Perhaps they were one of the best moments in my life. He has instilled in me something which I will think about. I think that is what I will call positivity.
When I walk, when I talk, I must have that positivity around me. It is always so refreshing. I myself felt it today, through that young boy.
Positive energy is truly contagious and it spreads. It spreads in the right way and for the right cause.
Let it spread through me. Let me be the carrier of positivity.
“How true Sundar was that day,” said Rehaan to Chief.
“Rehaan all of us come across certain individuals who have negativity in their attitude. In every job they are the first to find how difficult it is to complete the task.” said Chief.
“And you know what I do. I first try to change them but if I cannot, I simply stay away from them. They can have a negative influence in your daily life.” said Rehaan.
“I know that, everytime you take up an assignment I know you say to yourself that it shall be done and that helps you overcome obstacles so easily. That is the power of positive thinking I must say,” said Chief.
“You know Chief, every morning when I get up, I tell my son Abhirup that he has two options for the day. He can start the day by looking at life positively and he will happy and successful. Else, he can choose to be unhappy by looking at all the negatives and keep on exploring what cannot be done. And when I see him getting up with a smiling face, I know he has chosen to be happy, to be positive,” said Rehaan.
(Pages. 41-44)
“Job content is fine but what is more important is the title and money. After all, that will give you a better life and the social status,” said Sohan.
“I thought you were intelligent,” said Ketaki. “ Most of us get attracted towards fancy job title, I feel any titles needs to be deserved and hence must be supported by a proper job content.”
“I think Sohan believes in running a sprint and not a marathon and soon will be breathless,” said Rehaan.
“Rehaan I strongly suggest that you do not change jobs for the sake of changing. If you are given important assignments, new opportunities, if you are happy with the location, have a decent work-life balance and have a clear road ahead, you might be challenged to take a decision.
Obviously, money matters, but a job satisfaction without commensurate pay might lead you to look out for new assignment again,” said Anvar.
“There is a popular belief that no one leaves a company, they leave their bosses,” said Neha.
“Yes Neha, in most of the cases we take a decision to change as we are not happy with our immediate circumstances. I strongly recommend to evaluate the situation keeping other factors in mind. Express your problems to other seniors members in the company, take them into confidence. I have also seen sometimes, if you are a great performer, company buys time by giving you a new project. I seriously think that is fair,” said Anvar.
“All these are fine, but let me tell you why I changed my last job,” said Sohan. “I got stressed out with continuous meetings, deadlines, travel when I was in project management. A job change has actually helped me to find a solution.”
“You are wrong Sohan. You could have found out options in your earlier company too. Being a good performer, I am sure they would have not wanted to lose you if you had expressed your problems,” said Rehaan.
“You are lucky that the new company has suited you. You have to manage stress yourself. No amount of job change can help you to cope up with it,” said Neha.
“Getting a right job is not an easy one. Most of the time once you declare yourself available to the consultants, you will start getting calls, but you need to be clear on what exactly you want. Self-evaluation is most important. You should know yourself the best. Human beings have different needs at different circumstances. Hence knowing your own need at that moment is very critical. It depends on your current situation and your future goal,” said Anvar.
“This is a great conversation. I realized that talking to each other can be so fruitful. We must take guidance from each other and gain from the knowledge we have collectively,” said Ketaki.
“But Ketaki, how many of us actually talk to our friends and seniors for guidance?” Asked Anvar.
The party went on. Rehaan kept thinking about the conversation. It threw some new light on his career.
That night, Rehaan’s diary:
I agree that change is the only constant factor in life and hence we must change. However, I am not going to change just for the sake of it.
I never agreed to the view of Sohan and Jaideep. That was their view. But I think what Anvar said makes much more sense and has a greater relevance to my life.
Is five years too long a time for my first job? Not really. I know so many CEOs who have worked for one company through out their career and yet have reached the top. I also know so many of them have changed many jobs.
So what is that right formula? There is none I suppose. It is all about succeeding in every stage of your career, be it anywhere.
I need to evaluate the options. And for that, I need to know myself better. I need to know my needs, my strength and my weakness.
I need to be clear before I even move an inch.
Next Sunday, Rehaan asked Chief,” What do we do now? Should I change?”
Chief answered with a smile, “You know the best. Your friends have told you all.”
“What do you mean?”
“Simple. Know yourself better. Take down a pen and a piece of paper, evaluate yourself, your needs, your desires, and your shortcomings and then evaluate why you need to change. I am sure you will get all your answers.”
It was time for Rehaan to look for the writing pad, thanks to Chief.
(Pages 80-83)
Reprinted by permission of UBS Publishers' Distributors Private Limited. Excerpted from Why Not...! Racing Ahead with Mentors by Partha Sarathi Basu, Rs. 175.00; Copyright © 2008; All Rights Reserved. |
