| #280: Rent. Read. Return. |
To celebrate the opening of the first branch of Just Books, a successful chain of libraries in Bangalore, in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, by my better half, here is a bonus edition of i-TFTD with quotes on books and reading.
(Yes, the above is a not-so-subtle plug, please inform all your acquaintances and do drop by on a weekend between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM. Navigate using this Google maps link. As you can see from the photos, there are thousands of new fiction, non-fiction and young readers' books to browse.)
#280-1. Books are the compasses and telescopes and sextants and charts which other men have prepared to help us navigate the dangerous seas of human life.
-Jesse Lee Bennett
#280-2. If you do not have the time to read, you do not have the time to lead.
-Phillip Schlechty
#280-3. Not to know is bad, not to wish to know is worse.
-Nigerian Proverb
#280-4. Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity.
-Christopher Morley
(Thanks to Atul Kahate for sharing this.)
#280-5. Successful people have libraries. The rest have big screen TVs.
-Jim Rohn
(Thanks to Shuja Rahman for sharing this.)
#280-6. Be an explorer... read, surf the internet, visit customers, enjoy arts, watch children play... do anything to prevent yourself from becoming a prisoner of your knowledge, experience, and current view of the world.
-Charles 'Chic' Thompson in 'What a Great Idea'
#280-7. A complacent satisfaction with present knowledge is the chief bar to the pursuit of knowledge.
-Sir Basil Henry Liddell Hart in 'The Ghost of Napoleon'
#280-8. Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.
-Samuel Johnson
____
When talking about books and reading, some people retort, "Reading is not going to help" or, "You cannot learn this from books!" Other than a few rare situations, such statements are pointless and even dangerous. One can substitute anything in the place of "reading", like, "Talking is not going to help" and "Thinking is not..." What one learns from reading is one kind of knowledge, there are many other useful kinds that one has to learn through other methods. Look at any person who has had a positive impact and you will find they are readers and often give credit for their success to something they read.
Not everyone can buy lots of books, not all books worth reading are worth buying, which is why, it has been one of my childhood dreams to open a library—a place where many people can benefit from access to the treasure trove of distilled experience from around the world. While I continued to periodically imagine about doing such a thing in future, my wife, the person who is most evidently different from me, who disagrees with me on most topics, just went ahead and started one, right under my nose. Delicious irony?
| #279: We Are, But Do We Want to Be, Like This Only? |
I am sure we all receive several forwarded mails a week containing scam schemes, irritating marketing offers (thank you, corporate firewall, this is only a problem in my personal email IDs) and occasionally a nice quote or anecdote a la i-TFTD, but often embedded in a huge presentation file with scenic pictures (something we avoid doing in i-TFTD).
Some mails provoke an immediate smile or a knowing nod but further reflection may lead to different insights. Here's one I received recently from Tejinder Sethi and a couple of others.
We live in a nation:
i) where pizza reaches home faster than ambulance/police
ii) where you get car loan at 5% and education loan at 12%
iii) where rice is Rs 40/- per kg but SIM card is free
iv) where a millionaire can buy a cricket team instead of donating the money to any charity
v) where the footwear we wear on our feet are sold in AC showrooms, but vegetables that we eat are sold on the footpath
vi) where everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to follow the path to be famous
vii) where we make lemon juice with artificial flavours and dish washing liquids with real lemon
viii) where people are standing at tea stalls reading an article about child labour from a newspaper and say, "Yaar bachhonse kaam karvaane waale ko to phaansi par chadha dena chaahiye" and then they shout, "Oye chhotu, 2 chai laao!" (roughly translated as, "People who employ children must be hanged!" followed by, "Hey boy, get me two cups of tea!")
Incredible India, Mera Bharat Mahaan (My India is Great).
____
Cute and clever. Yes, this largely reflects reality in 2010 in India, indisputably incredible in many good and not so good ways. As a fun or even funny piece this can be appreciated. But drawing serious conclusions too quickly would not be rational.
Let us consider a few possible counterviews as a thinking exercise.
viii) (Chai boy) Irony, yes. Hypocrisy? Possibly. What should a good human being do? Is refraining from commenting on the article a better behavior? Some friends working to improve the lives of street children in India have narrated so many puzzling conundrums of survival faced by poor families that are not easy to form opinions about.
vii) (Lemon flavor) This I like. Too many people get fooled with the aggressive advertising of consumer goods companies. Preferences within one's affordability have to be exercised prudently but to each his or her own.
vi) (Famous) Slightly out of character in this list. Preachy and broad statement that does not really illuminate.
v) Footwear can also be purchased on the streets and that unorganized market is probably larger than the one consisting of air-conditioned showrooms. See also ii) below.
iv) Anything a millionaire does can be contrasted with giving the money to charity. Luckily, most millionaires ignore such melodramatic mush and some of the richest billionaires (Gates and Buffett) are really trying to contribute to changing the world.
iii) (Rice vs SIM) Let us not waste injecting logic by questioning whether one SIM card is the equivalent of one kilogram of rice. I am reminded of a picture from the early 1990s in The Economist—a brilliant magazine except for its occasional condescending tone towards India—which showed a satellite dish being carried by a bullock cart. It symbolized the contrasts that is India. Many Indians think it is obvious that we should not invest in expensive space exploration when we cannot provide food and basic education to millions. This ignores not just the available evidence of the impact of science and technology, but the entire history of human progress. On a lighter note, the comparison probably indicates the penchant of Indians to talk more than their need to eat!
ii) (Loan rates) Free market economics decides whether the nature of the product and its demand-supply equation would make education loans cheaper than car loans. We as borrowers benefit from competitive market forces and our behavior guides market trends. Hmmm... if all of us sell off our cars to fund the costs of sending our children to an American university, maybe...
i) Should quick home delivery of pizza be banned until ambulance services are made available in a shorter timeframe? We need people like Steven "Freakonomics" Levitt and Tim "Undercover Economist" Harford to enlighten us with statistics on the number of ambulances and their coverage along with those for pizza delivery.
Our Bharat will be mahaan (great) when we regain the supremely logical thinking ability that this land has seen in ages gone by (Buddha circa 460 BCE, Shankara 780 CE though some argue BCE) and adapt, as only we with the jugaad factor can, to the realities of the modern world with a scientific spirit and yes, Indian values.
BTW, I am conscious that the comments above could be construed as a typical example of the argumentative nature of Indians.
Some mails provoke an immediate smile or a knowing nod but further reflection may lead to different insights. Here's one I received recently from Tejinder Sethi and a couple of others.
We live in a nation:
i) where pizza reaches home faster than ambulance/police
ii) where you get car loan at 5% and education loan at 12%
iii) where rice is Rs 40/- per kg but SIM card is free
iv) where a millionaire can buy a cricket team instead of donating the money to any charity
v) where the footwear we wear on our feet are sold in AC showrooms, but vegetables that we eat are sold on the footpath
vi) where everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to follow the path to be famous
vii) where we make lemon juice with artificial flavours and dish washing liquids with real lemon
viii) where people are standing at tea stalls reading an article about child labour from a newspaper and say, "Yaar bachhonse kaam karvaane waale ko to phaansi par chadha dena chaahiye" and then they shout, "Oye chhotu, 2 chai laao!" (roughly translated as, "People who employ children must be hanged!" followed by, "Hey boy, get me two cups of tea!")
Incredible India, Mera Bharat Mahaan (My India is Great).
____
Cute and clever. Yes, this largely reflects reality in 2010 in India, indisputably incredible in many good and not so good ways. As a fun or even funny piece this can be appreciated. But drawing serious conclusions too quickly would not be rational.
Let us consider a few possible counterviews as a thinking exercise.
viii) (Chai boy) Irony, yes. Hypocrisy? Possibly. What should a good human being do? Is refraining from commenting on the article a better behavior? Some friends working to improve the lives of street children in India have narrated so many puzzling conundrums of survival faced by poor families that are not easy to form opinions about.
vii) (Lemon flavor) This I like. Too many people get fooled with the aggressive advertising of consumer goods companies. Preferences within one's affordability have to be exercised prudently but to each his or her own.
vi) (Famous) Slightly out of character in this list. Preachy and broad statement that does not really illuminate.
v) Footwear can also be purchased on the streets and that unorganized market is probably larger than the one consisting of air-conditioned showrooms. See also ii) below.
iv) Anything a millionaire does can be contrasted with giving the money to charity. Luckily, most millionaires ignore such melodramatic mush and some of the richest billionaires (Gates and Buffett) are really trying to contribute to changing the world.
iii) (Rice vs SIM) Let us not waste injecting logic by questioning whether one SIM card is the equivalent of one kilogram of rice. I am reminded of a picture from the early 1990s in The Economist—a brilliant magazine except for its occasional condescending tone towards India—which showed a satellite dish being carried by a bullock cart. It symbolized the contrasts that is India. Many Indians think it is obvious that we should not invest in expensive space exploration when we cannot provide food and basic education to millions. This ignores not just the available evidence of the impact of science and technology, but the entire history of human progress. On a lighter note, the comparison probably indicates the penchant of Indians to talk more than their need to eat!
ii) (Loan rates) Free market economics decides whether the nature of the product and its demand-supply equation would make education loans cheaper than car loans. We as borrowers benefit from competitive market forces and our behavior guides market trends. Hmmm... if all of us sell off our cars to fund the costs of sending our children to an American university, maybe...
i) Should quick home delivery of pizza be banned until ambulance services are made available in a shorter timeframe? We need people like Steven "Freakonomics" Levitt and Tim "Undercover Economist" Harford to enlighten us with statistics on the number of ambulances and their coverage along with those for pizza delivery.
Our Bharat will be mahaan (great) when we regain the supremely logical thinking ability that this land has seen in ages gone by (Buddha circa 460 BCE, Shankara 780 CE though some argue BCE) and adapt, as only we with the jugaad factor can, to the realities of the modern world with a scientific spirit and yes, Indian values.
BTW, I am conscious that the comments above could be construed as a typical example of the argumentative nature of Indians.
| #278: Amzanig Sepillng? |
I cd not blveiee taht I cluod aulactly uesdnatnrd waht I was rdeanig. The phaonmneal pweor of the huamn mnid - Aoccdrnig to a rserecah, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseaae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig? and I awlyas tohught slpeling was ipmorantt!
____
One of the nicer forwards that has been in circulation for a while. Some clever and logico-analytical readers (like me) may think that this is rigged, that there is some specific pattern in which the letters have been jumbled. I have tried a few times to make up such sentences and found that it works in almost all cases.
This triggers many thoughts: (i) there are fascinating aspects of the human mind and language that continue to be discovered (ii) Sticklers for spelling and grammar (like me) need to remind themselves that the essence of communication of meaning lies elsewhere (iii) Part of the reason the above garbled text seems to work is that we rarely pay close attention to what is in front of us, approaching things with a preconceived bias so in situations when we feel an impulse to react strongly we should step back and look at the facts afresh. (iv) Another good reason for this to work is that the mind tries to understand things in relation to the context rather than in absolute terms.
Points (iii) and (iv) are the source of many perceptual tricks and psychological experiments.
Amzanig? and I awlyas tohught slpeling was ipmorantt!
____
One of the nicer forwards that has been in circulation for a while. Some clever and logico-analytical readers (like me) may think that this is rigged, that there is some specific pattern in which the letters have been jumbled. I have tried a few times to make up such sentences and found that it works in almost all cases.
This triggers many thoughts: (i) there are fascinating aspects of the human mind and language that continue to be discovered (ii) Sticklers for spelling and grammar (like me) need to remind themselves that the essence of communication of meaning lies elsewhere (iii) Part of the reason the above garbled text seems to work is that we rarely pay close attention to what is in front of us, approaching things with a preconceived bias so in situations when we feel an impulse to react strongly we should step back and look at the facts afresh. (iv) Another good reason for this to work is that the mind tries to understand things in relation to the context rather than in absolute terms.
Points (iii) and (iv) are the source of many perceptual tricks and psychological experiments.
| #277: On Owning Up to Decisions |
#277-1. These days Wall Street bankers sound like the lady who killed her husband and then asked for mercy because she was a widow.
-Nitin Desai in his article, Welfare for the Wealthy, on business-standard.com, Feb 19, 2009
#277-2. At most companies, people spend 2 percent of their time recruiting and 75 percent managing their recruiting mistakes.
-Richard Fairbank, CEO, Capital One, quoted by Harvard prof. Jim Heskett in his article, Why Can't We Figure Out How to Select Leaders?, at http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6103.html, Feb 5, 2009
#277-3. Difficulty in reaching consensus rises with the number of 'stakeholders' and usually means the end result is too many 'holders' and too little 'stake'.
-Dean Procter in his article, Collaboration Does Not Always Lead To Innovation, on FinExtra.com, Nov 23, 2008
____
A lot of people at the helm of banking and the US economy are talking about learning lessons from the past but their actions belie their stated intent.
Part of the problem is that there are no foolproof, universal methods of selection. Another problem is that the people who have the deciding power on critical appointments may not be the most effective judges.
I can involve my team and seek inputs from many other peers but I should never confuse such a participative and inclusive approach with my decision-making responsibility. Once a decision is taken and acted upon, I have to own the consequences.
-Nitin Desai in his article, Welfare for the Wealthy, on business-standard.com, Feb 19, 2009
#277-2. At most companies, people spend 2 percent of their time recruiting and 75 percent managing their recruiting mistakes.
-Richard Fairbank, CEO, Capital One, quoted by Harvard prof. Jim Heskett in his article, Why Can't We Figure Out How to Select Leaders?, at http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6103.html, Feb 5, 2009
#277-3. Difficulty in reaching consensus rises with the number of 'stakeholders' and usually means the end result is too many 'holders' and too little 'stake'.
-Dean Procter in his article, Collaboration Does Not Always Lead To Innovation, on FinExtra.com, Nov 23, 2008
____
A lot of people at the helm of banking and the US economy are talking about learning lessons from the past but their actions belie their stated intent.
Part of the problem is that there are no foolproof, universal methods of selection. Another problem is that the people who have the deciding power on critical appointments may not be the most effective judges.
I can involve my team and seek inputs from many other peers but I should never confuse such a participative and inclusive approach with my decision-making responsibility. Once a decision is taken and acted upon, I have to own the consequences.
| #276: Inspiration from Carpenters, Stonecutters and Car Reviewers |
#276-1. When I was a carpenter, I once worked with this Russian lady architect. I would tell her, "Look, I'm terribly sorry, but I want to change that a half inch," and she would say, "No limit for better." I think that is a worthy credo. You keep on going until you get it as close to being right as the time and patience of others will allow.
-Harrison Ford, carpenter-turned-Hollywood-star, in an interview in Parade magazine in Jan 2010
#276-2. When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
-Jacob August Riis, Danish-born American journalist and social reformer (1849-1914)
#276-3. Many people claim to love inanimate objects. They say they love clothing from a particular store or a type of sandwich served at a specific restaurant or that restored Victorian over on Elm Street, the one with the porch swing. I've always thought that a statement like that was slightly dishonest, and that the more objects a person claimed to love, the less you could believe anything they said, whether it had to do with your new haircut or the latest release by R.E.M.
-Christian Wardlaw, Edmund's Automobile Road Tests (from a review of the Mazda Miata)
____
The itch to tweak, familiar to good software programmers and good artists and craftspersons of any kind, can be the path to excellence when indulged within limits.
Great output seems to come from magical abilities but those who produce it know the persistent effort that preceded the final exertion.
The love for such perfection is very different from the love of objects; the limitation of language tends to mislead.
-Harrison Ford, carpenter-turned-Hollywood-star, in an interview in Parade magazine in Jan 2010
#276-2. When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.
-Jacob August Riis, Danish-born American journalist and social reformer (1849-1914)
#276-3. Many people claim to love inanimate objects. They say they love clothing from a particular store or a type of sandwich served at a specific restaurant or that restored Victorian over on Elm Street, the one with the porch swing. I've always thought that a statement like that was slightly dishonest, and that the more objects a person claimed to love, the less you could believe anything they said, whether it had to do with your new haircut or the latest release by R.E.M.
-Christian Wardlaw, Edmund's Automobile Road Tests (from a review of the Mazda Miata)
____
The itch to tweak, familiar to good software programmers and good artists and craftspersons of any kind, can be the path to excellence when indulged within limits.
Great output seems to come from magical abilities but those who produce it know the persistent effort that preceded the final exertion.
The love for such perfection is very different from the love of objects; the limitation of language tends to mislead.
| #275: Beware of Garbage Trucks |
Beware of Garbage Trucks
By David J. Pollay
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood?
Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly one can get back their focus on what's important.
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.
I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"
And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did."
So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."
I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.
One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting.
Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.
What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?
Here's my bet. You'll be happier.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, TAKE IT! If it changes your life, LET IT!
Nobody said it would be easy… they just promised it would be worth it!
(Thanks to Neerav Joshipura for sharing this.)
____
I have sometimes wasted my mental CPU cycles, trying to analyze my interaction with some people who were simply unloading their garbage.
Of course, like other inspiring thoughts, it needs to be applied judiciously. This is not a prescription to ignore feedback from others when we don't like it. Or to be insensitive to another's plight. Just to move on and spend energy on the next step forward.
By David J. Pollay
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood?
Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly one can get back their focus on what's important.
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.
I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"
And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did."
So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."
I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.
One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting.
Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.
What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?
Here's my bet. You'll be happier.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, TAKE IT! If it changes your life, LET IT!
Nobody said it would be easy… they just promised it would be worth it!
(Thanks to Neerav Joshipura for sharing this.)
____
I have sometimes wasted my mental CPU cycles, trying to analyze my interaction with some people who were simply unloading their garbage.
Of course, like other inspiring thoughts, it needs to be applied judiciously. This is not a prescription to ignore feedback from others when we don't like it. Or to be insensitive to another's plight. Just to move on and spend energy on the next step forward.
| #274: Open Mind Surgery Ha Ha |
#274-1. The closed mind, if closed long enough, can be opened by nothing short of dynamite.
-Gerald Johnson
#274-2. Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.
-GK Chesterton
#274-3. A sense of humor is the ability to understand a joke—and that the joke is oneself.
-Clifton Fadiman
____
Some traps to avoid: If I do it, I call it open-mindedness; if you do it, it is indecisiveness! I am open-minded towards people who are worth it.
I find humour to be a great mind-opener. It lets some things be said in an acceptable manner that cannot otherwise be easily said. A good, meaningful remark made in a lighter vein has the desired effect of triggering thought in the listener. The same message given as direct advice might be resisted defensively. Having a sense of humour requires some amount of open-mindedness.
-Gerald Johnson
#274-2. Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.
-GK Chesterton
#274-3. A sense of humor is the ability to understand a joke—and that the joke is oneself.
-Clifton Fadiman
____
Some traps to avoid: If I do it, I call it open-mindedness; if you do it, it is indecisiveness! I am open-minded towards people who are worth it.
I find humour to be a great mind-opener. It lets some things be said in an acceptable manner that cannot otherwise be easily said. A good, meaningful remark made in a lighter vein has the desired effect of triggering thought in the listener. The same message given as direct advice might be resisted defensively. Having a sense of humour requires some amount of open-mindedness.
| #273: Who Knows |
A gentleman once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby. Surprised he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?" "No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage."
The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. "Where is the damage?" asked the gentleman. "There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work.
"Where are you going to install the idol?"
The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high.
"If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked.
The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, "I know it and God knows it!"
The desire to excel should be exclusive of the fact whether someone appreciates it or not. Excellence is a drive from inside, not outside. Excel at a task today—not necessarily for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction.
(Thanks to Kiran Kudtarkar for sharing this.)
_____
We know this is a useful bit of advice but it is not easy to follow. It is easier to moan that the world does not appreciate the value of excellence.
One thing to watch out for is perfectionism. In the name of excellence I cannot ignore deadlines or cost considerations. If my level of attention to fixing every detail is seen as nitpicking by most people around me who are otherwise sensible people, I need to re-evaluate my thinking.
Many seem to be wondering when to make practical choices and when not to give up. One method I suggest is to look for perfection at a higher level, or a larger goal. An example could help understand what I mean by higher level. I have fixed all the bugs and screen layout defects in my software module and tested it. If my getting stuck on one strange font color setting problem delays the entire project schedule, it is case of bad perfectionism. I need to focus my mind on the perfection of timely delivery and my contribution to the team as a whole as against my mastery in unravelling a non-critical problem.
Finally, I believe we must aspire and strive for perfection but tolerantly accept less than ideal results, especially where other people are involved.
| #272: On Knowledge and Ideas |
#272-1. Whoever in debate quotes authority uses not intellect, but memory.
-Leonardo Da Vinci
#272-2. The graveyards are full of indispensable men.
-Charles de Gaulle
#272-3. A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.
-Mary Kay Ash
_____
Quoting authority is not necessarily a bad strategy. Its effectiveness depends on the acceptability of the authority to the listener. Many make the mistake of choosing the authority that they (the speaker) respect.
Withholding information, continuing to be the only expert in the team, making sure others depend on me… these are previous-century tactics. The benefits of consciously and regularly making myself dispensable are: (i) I make it easier to move on to newer roles and responsibilities (ii) I demonstrate leadership by developing others (iii) My contribution is not only my performance output but I leave a legacy of success via others.
An idea, to succeed, needs to reach the right minds at the right time. Too early or too late or to the wrong people... could kill the idea prematurely. Innovation (applied creativity) requires selling of ideas.
| #271: Excerpts from The Cocktail Party |
The following are selected lines from the poem written in 1949.
The Cocktail Party
by T.S. Eliot
It will do you no harm to find yourself ridiculous.
Resign yourself to be the fool you are.
You will find that you survive humiliation
And that's an experience of incalculable value.
...
We die to each other daily.
What we know of other people
Is only our memory of the moments
During which we knew them. And they have changed since then.
To pretend that they and we are the same
Is a useful and convenient social convention
Which must sometimes broken. We must also remember
That at every meeting we are meeting a stranger.
...
Half the harm that is done in this world
Is due to people who want to feel important.
They don't mean to do harm—but the harm does not interest them.
Or they do not see it, or they justify it
Because they are absorbed in the endless struggle
To think well of themselves.
...
We must always take risks. That is our destiny.
...
Only by acceptance of the past will you alter its meaning.
Every moment is a fresh beginning.
(Thanks to Ranu Pande for pointing me to this.)
_____
So much has been said
And written about, over time
We fail to reflect.| #270: On Effectiveness and Thinking |
#270-1. The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
-Anon
#270-2. To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult.
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
#270-3. If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.
-Peace Pilgrim
____
Effective thinking is difficult and rare. Sustained thinking is rarer. Mental fatigue sets in. The chairman of one of the Korean chaebols used the phrase, "Thinking till it hurts". We brood and go over the same set of limited options when confronted with an important decision, usually a personal one. Edward de Bono has written about systematic teaching of better thinking, both logical and lateral. I have found that writing down the options helps my brain to move towards generating more alternatives. "Thinking About Thinking" by K.R. Ravi is a great book that lists many common logical fallacies that we all fall prey to.
You may also want to review earlier posts such as Thoughts on Thinking, On Intelligent Thinking, Thinking Deep and Wide and Degrees of Positive Thinking.
| #269: From the Nitwittersphere |
Having coined a word for the title of this i-TFTD, I feel compelled to explain and enlighten you of its origin.
Twittersphere, of course, is the total universe of Twitter users and their output in the form of tweets.
A nitwit is a stupid person. A nitwitter as per urban dictionary is a person who irritatingly discusses their twitting frequently. Someone else has defined nitwitter as a person who writes hopelessly incomprehensible Twitter posts.
So, my contribution to the blogosphere is nitwittersphere. Sorry. Will do better next time.
Unlike the above gobbledygook, tweets on Twitter can be useful, funny and thought-provoking. Here are three for this edition of i-TFTD.
#269-1. @funnyoneliners: Today is the first day of the rest of the mess.
#269-2. @michaelmelcher: Your inbox is not your to do list.
#269-3. @r_ganesh: Doers are too busy to consult thinkers, who don't know or care to sell to doers or have action bias. Think I must do something!
____
The first one is a variation of ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life’. The second is about prioritization. Some people worry about not having time to prioritize and plunge into activity while some others agonize too long in synchronizing detailed to do lists in various gadgets! For both categories of folks, I recommend reading a short post at http://ribbonfarm.posterous.com/when-you-fail-to-prioritize-prioritizing. The third was my attempt to point out the irony in the artificial classification of people into thinkers and doers. I think we all do both though the degree and the domains may vary from time to time.
Twittersphere, of course, is the total universe of Twitter users and their output in the form of tweets.
A nitwit is a stupid person. A nitwitter as per urban dictionary is a person who irritatingly discusses their twitting frequently. Someone else has defined nitwitter as a person who writes hopelessly incomprehensible Twitter posts.
So, my contribution to the blogosphere is nitwittersphere. Sorry. Will do better next time.
Unlike the above gobbledygook, tweets on Twitter can be useful, funny and thought-provoking. Here are three for this edition of i-TFTD.
#269-1. @funnyoneliners: Today is the first day of the rest of the mess.
#269-2. @michaelmelcher: Your inbox is not your to do list.
#269-3. @r_ganesh: Doers are too busy to consult thinkers, who don't know or care to sell to doers or have action bias. Think I must do something!
____
The first one is a variation of ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life’. The second is about prioritization. Some people worry about not having time to prioritize and plunge into activity while some others agonize too long in synchronizing detailed to do lists in various gadgets! For both categories of folks, I recommend reading a short post at http://ribbonfarm.posterous.com/when-you-fail-to-prioritize-prioritizing. The third was my attempt to point out the irony in the artificial classification of people into thinkers and doers. I think we all do both though the degree and the domains may vary from time to time.
| #268: On Sense and News |
#268-1. I react pragmatically. Where the market works, I'm for that. Where the government is necessary, I'm for that. I'm deeply suspicious of somebody who says, "I'm in favor of privatization," or, "I'm deeply in favor of public ownership." I'm in favor of whatever works in the particular case.
-John Kenneth Galbraith, Canadian-American economist (1908-2006)
#268-2. I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.
-Theodor (Dr.) Seuss Geisel, American children's writer and cartoonist (1904-1991)
#268-3. If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.
-Mark Twain, American humorist, writer and lecturer (1835-1910)
____
I like Galbraith's nonsense and Dr. Seuss's pragmatism. Many great thinkers, including Rajaji and poet Walt Whitman, have expressed the need for ‘improving’ our views. Forming opinions with confidence is the first stage in learning a new subject but further steps of growth necessarily involve reversing earlier thoughts. Attenuation is different from having a weak signal to begin with. Playful tweaking is an essential activity for rapid learning.
After The Indian Express, The Hindu is the second respected daily English newspaper in India facing family ownership related problems. Such are the times (pun intended) that we are left with a monopoly newspaper group that proudly auctions its pages all of which are worthy of being called ‘Page 3’. Like my friends in America have been doing for years I would soon be consuming news from Google et al rather than the physical paper accompanying the morning cuppa. Not much to lament about when you can explore topics with innovative services like Trailmeme.
-John Kenneth Galbraith, Canadian-American economist (1908-2006)
#268-2. I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.
-Theodor (Dr.) Seuss Geisel, American children's writer and cartoonist (1904-1991)
#268-3. If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.
-Mark Twain, American humorist, writer and lecturer (1835-1910)
____
I like Galbraith's nonsense and Dr. Seuss's pragmatism
After The Indian Express, The Hindu is the second respected daily English newspaper in India facing family ownership related problems. Such are the times (pun intended) that we are left with a monopoly newspaper group that proudly auctions its pages all of which are worthy of being called ‘Page 3’. Like my friends in America have been doing for years I would soon be consuming news from Google et al rather than the physical paper accompanying the morning cuppa. Not much to lament about when you can explore topics with innovative services like Trailmeme.
| #267: Deep Thoughts |
Some quotes, in addition to conveying a useful thought, lend themselves to multiple interpretations, or provoke us to reflect deeper. Like it? Let me know.
#267-1. Eminent posts make great men greater, and little men less.
-Jean de la Bruyere, essayist and moralist (1645-1696)
One obvious meaning is what people become through their actions after reaching the post. Great ones now have a better platform to do more good, while lesser ones misuse power. Another interpretation is that the successful attainment of eminent posts itself makes them more of what they are. Good people become better in the path to higher levels while others tend to take short cuts of dubious standards to attain success. A related but slightly different view is that the achievement itself is a strong proof of someone's greatness or lack of scruple.
#267-2. A good leader can't get too far ahead of his followers.
-Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd US President (1882-1945)
Cannot could mean should not, that is, should lead and pace by adapting to the team in order to be effective. Too much awe or respect of the leader's ability would make the team reconcile themselves to their current state rather than inspiring them to attain higher levels. Cannot could also mean will not be able to, that is, a leader is constrained by the team's capability levels. Where possible, selecting the right mix in the team becomes a leader's important responsibility. How about: "Followers can't get too much behind a leader." Reminds me of the question: which is a better performing team, a group of lions led by a deer or a herd of deer led by a lion? The answer is not too obvious to me. Is there one correct answer?
#267-3. Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?
-Kahlil Gibran, mystic, poet, and artist (1883-1931)
Insecurity induces damaging behavior from leaders, eventually self-damaging. Accumulation of more wealth and affording luxury do not correlate with contentment. This unquenchable thirst reminds me of the unwakeable sleep-pretender. A different thought is: dissatisfaction with a working system is a thirst that can be quenched with innovative improvements. In fact, that is the creative urge that brings progress or poetry.
#267-1. Eminent posts make great men greater, and little men less.
-Jean de la Bruyere, essayist and moralist (1645-1696)
One obvious meaning is what people become through their actions after reaching the post. Great ones now have a better platform to do more good, while lesser ones misuse power. Another interpretation is that the successful attainment of eminent posts itself makes them more of what they are. Good people become better in the path to higher levels while others tend to take short cuts of dubious standards to attain success. A related but slightly different view is that the achievement itself is a strong proof of someone's greatness or lack of scruple.
#267-2. A good leader can't get too far ahead of his followers.
-Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd US President (1882-1945)
Cannot could mean should not, that is, should lead and pace by adapting to the team in order to be effective. Too much awe or respect of the leader's ability would make the team reconcile themselves to their current state rather than inspiring them to attain higher levels. Cannot could also mean will not be able to, that is, a leader is constrained by the team's capability levels. Where possible, selecting the right mix in the team becomes a leader's important responsibility. How about: "Followers can't get too much behind a leader." Reminds me of the question: which is a better performing team, a group of lions led by a deer or a herd of deer led by a lion? The answer is not too obvious to me. Is there one correct answer?
#267-3. Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?
-Kahlil Gibran, mystic, poet, and artist (1883-1931)
Insecurity induces damaging behavior from leaders, eventually self-damaging. Accumulation of more wealth and affording luxury do not correlate with contentment. This unquenchable thirst reminds me of the unwakeable sleep-pretender. A different thought is: dissatisfaction with a working system is a thirst that can be quenched with innovative improvements. In fact, that is the creative urge that brings progress or poetry.
| #266: Riding into the Storm |
#266-1. All men should strive to learn before they die
What they are running from, and to, and why.
-James Thurber, American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit (1894–1961)
#266-2. The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
-Edward Gibbon, English historian and Member of Parliament (1737-1794)
#266-3. The wise have encountered the negative thoughts and the temptations which are illusions of what is good. The illusion of good is what seems good now but is not good tomorrow.
-Thomas D. Willhite, motivational author
____
I remember Thurber for his hilarious piece I once read titled, "My Own Ten Rules for a Happy Marriage", which, unfortunately, I could not locate online. His quote was immediately thought-provoking when I saw it. Most of us seem to be running away from something most of the time. What? Why? Pausing to reflect seems useful even if there are no clear answers.
Positive thinkers tend to feel lucky, as Richard Wiseman has found (online here). Maybe the so-called universal energy prefers to favor excellence?
The key is to keep doing the right thing to the best of one's ability even when the wind does not seem to be on our side.
What they are running from, and to, and why.
-James Thurber, American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit (1894–1961)
#266-2. The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.
-Edward Gibbon, English historian and Member of Parliament (1737-1794)
#266-3. The wise have encountered the negative thoughts and the temptations which are illusions of what is good. The illusion of good is what seems good now but is not good tomorrow.
-Thomas D. Willhite, motivational author
____
I remember Thurber for his hilarious piece I once read titled, "My Own Ten Rules for a Happy Marriage", which, unfortunately, I could not locate online. His quote was immediately thought-provoking when I saw it. Most of us seem to be running away from something most of the time. What? Why? Pausing to reflect seems useful even if there are no clear answers.
Positive thinkers tend to feel lucky, as Richard Wiseman has found (online here). Maybe the so-called universal energy prefers to favor excellence?
The key is to keep doing the right thing to the best of one's ability even when the wind does not seem to be on our side.
| #265: On Praise and Criticism |
#265-1. The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted.
-François de la Rochefoucauld, French author of maxims and memoirs (1613 –1680)
(Thanks and a doff of hat to K Shailesh, another broadcaster of thoughts, for sharing this and many others.)
#265-2. Management that is destructively critical when mistakes are made, kills initiative.
-William L. McKnight, President and Chairman of 3M from 1949 to 1966
(Thanks to D Karthikeyan for sharing this.)
#265-3. If there was no praise or criticism in the world, then who would you be?
-Howard Behar, author of "It's Not About the Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks"
(Thanks to Ramanan Jagannathan for sharing this.)
____
This is not necessarily a bad thing. I have seen parents use this successfully with their children to elicit the desired behavior by praising even before the behavior has been demonstrated. Though we might sometimes experience a little shame on undeserved praise, most of the time, our rationalizing brain would lead us to convince ourselves that we actually deserve it. Daniel Gilbert, whose research at Harvard has earned him the nickname of Professor Happiness, whose delightfully informative book titled, "Stumbling on Happiness" I recently read, says this is part of our psychological immune system.
Striking a balance in management approach of encouraging risk taking (and therefore, by definition, mistakes) while also demanding excellence is so difficult, which is why we admire those companies and leaders that seem able to achieve it.
Tough to imagine a situation of no praise and no criticism! Pondering this question would lead us to a better understanding of our values and morals.
-François de la Rochefoucauld, French author of maxims and memoirs (1613 –1680)
(Thanks and a doff of hat to K Shailesh, another broadcaster of thoughts, for sharing this and many others.)
#265-2. Management that is destructively critical when mistakes are made, kills initiative.
-William L. McKnight, President and Chairman of 3M from 1949 to 1966
(Thanks to D Karthikeyan for sharing this.)
#265-3. If there was no praise or criticism in the world, then who would you be?
-Howard Behar, author of "It's Not About the Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks"
(Thanks to Ramanan Jagannathan for sharing this.)
____
This is not necessarily a bad thing. I have seen parents use this successfully with their children to elicit the desired behavior by praising even before the behavior has been demonstrated. Though we might sometimes experience a little shame on undeserved praise, most of the time, our rationalizing brain would lead us to convince ourselves that we actually deserve it. Daniel Gilbert, whose research at Harvard has earned him the nickname of Professor Happiness, whose delightfully informative book titled, "Stumbling on Happiness" I recently read, says this is part of our psychological immune system.
Striking a balance in management approach of encouraging risk taking (and therefore, by definition, mistakes) while also demanding excellence is so difficult, which is why we admire those companies and leaders that seem able to achieve it.
Tough to imagine a situation of no praise and no criticism! Pondering this question would lead us to a better understanding of our values and morals.
| #264: On Action Orientation |
#264-1. God gives every bird its worm, but he does not throw it into the nest.
-Swedish proverb
#264-2. Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.
-Norman Vincent Peale
#264-3. Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past.
-Tyron Edwards
_____
Sometimes it seems like a worm was thrown into our nest (lucky day feeling) or someone else's (much more often) but I believe sincere effort and fruits even out in the medium-to-long term, and it is we who do not make the connections easily. The process changes the person, even if the effort superficially appears to yield no result.
Any action is better than inaction caused by too much pondering. It is good to remember this when trying to begin something. However...
The keyword in the third quote is "right"—plunging into activity that repeats past mistakes and justifying it with "any action is better than no action" will harm, not help.
-Swedish proverb
#264-2. Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.
-Norman Vincent Peale
#264-3. Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past.
-Tyron Edwards
_____
Sometimes it seems like a worm was thrown into our nest (lucky day feeling) or someone else's (much more often) but I believe sincere effort and fruits even out in the medium-to-long term, and it is we who do not make the connections easily. The process changes the person, even if the effort superficially appears to yield no result.
Any action is better than inaction caused by too much pondering. It is good to remember this when trying to begin something. However...
The keyword in the third quote is "right"—plunging into activity that repeats past mistakes and justifying it with "any action is better than no action" will harm, not help.
| #263: Snippets on Giving and Receiving Feedback |
7 characteristics of highly effective feedback
Posted by Wally Bock on Oct 17, 2008 at his blog
-Highly effective feedback works in the context of clear and reasonable expectations.
-Highly effective feedback takes place in a climate where everyone is treated fairly.
-Highly effective feedback takes place in an atmosphere of candor.
-Most highly effective feedback sessions are short and informal.
-Lots of short, informal feedback sessions produce better results than fewer, more formal sessions.
-Positive feedback is the tool of choice for getting a person to try something or continue something.
-Negative feedback is the tool of choice for getting a person to stop something.
Management Advice from the Buddha
Posted by Marshall Goldsmith on March 16, 2008 at HBS Forum
Buddha suggested that his followers only do what he taught if it worked in the context of their own lives. He encouraged people to listen to his ideas, think about his suggestions, try out what made sense – keep doing what worked – and to just "let go" of what did not work. Similarly, I teach my clients to ask their key stakeholders for suggestions on they can become more effective leaders then listen to these ideas, think about the suggestions, try out what makes sense – keep doing what works – and let go of what does not.
When our stakeholders give us suggestions on how we can become more effective, we can look at these suggestions as gifts – and treat our stakeholders as gift-givers. When someone gives you a gift you wouldn’t say, “Stinky gift!” “Bad gift!” or “I already have this stupid gift!” You would say, “Thank you.” If you can use the gift – use it. If you don’t want to use the gift, put it in the closet and "let it go."
You would not insult the person who is trying to be nice by giving you a gift. In the same way, when our stakeholders give us ideas, we don’t want to insult them or their ideas. We can just learn to say, “Thank you.”
We cannot promise to do everything that people suggest we should do. We can promise to listen to our key stakeholders, think about their ideas, and do what we can. This is all that we can promise–and this is all that they expect.
My good friend, Chris Cappy, is a world expert on large-scale change, has a great philosophy on getting ideas. He always says, “I won’t learn less.” When we get ideas and suggestions, we may learn more – but we won’t learn less. Get in the habit of asking the important people in your life, “How can I be a better…?”
This works at work – in your efforts to become a better leader, team member, or co-worker.
This works at home – in your efforts to become a better friend or family member.
____
Like most good advice, these are easy to understand and agree with but hard to practise! Formal appraisals are one situation where we have to give feedback. Many find it difficult to do so they opt to give vague, generally positive comments and avoid providing negative feedback. If timely feedback is given throughout the year, it becomes easy to summarize the highlights at the formal annual appraisal. If specific events are noted down to quote as examples, the discussion can be more focused and fruitful.
Everybody these days seems to express a desire to receive feedback but the more accomplished the person, the more defensive the reaction to feedback. Pragati Leadership Institute suggests receiving feedback like 'prasad’, the blessing in the form of a sweet distributed in a temple. Even if one were to refrain from consuming it for medical or hygienic reasons, one would dispose of it discreetly and not offend the giver by refusing it.
Posted by Wally Bock on Oct 17, 2008 at his blog
-Highly effective feedback works in the context of clear and reasonable expectations.
-Highly effective feedback takes place in a climate where everyone is treated fairly.
-Highly effective feedback takes place in an atmosphere of candor.
-Most highly effective feedback sessions are short and informal.
-Lots of short, informal feedback sessions produce better results than fewer, more formal sessions.
-Positive feedback is the tool of choice for getting a person to try something or continue something.
-Negative feedback is the tool of choice for getting a person to stop something.
Management Advice from the Buddha
Posted by Marshall Goldsmith on March 16, 2008 at HBS Forum
Buddha suggested that his followers only do what he taught if it worked in the context of their own lives. He encouraged people to listen to his ideas, think about his suggestions, try out what made sense – keep doing what worked – and to just "let go" of what did not work. Similarly, I teach my clients to ask their key stakeholders for suggestions on they can become more effective leaders then listen to these ideas, think about the suggestions, try out what makes sense – keep doing what works – and let go of what does not.
When our stakeholders give us suggestions on how we can become more effective, we can look at these suggestions as gifts – and treat our stakeholders as gift-givers. When someone gives you a gift you wouldn’t say, “Stinky gift!” “Bad gift!” or “I already have this stupid gift!” You would say, “Thank you.” If you can use the gift – use it. If you don’t want to use the gift, put it in the closet and "let it go."
You would not insult the person who is trying to be nice by giving you a gift. In the same way, when our stakeholders give us ideas, we don’t want to insult them or their ideas. We can just learn to say, “Thank you.”
We cannot promise to do everything that people suggest we should do. We can promise to listen to our key stakeholders, think about their ideas, and do what we can. This is all that we can promise–and this is all that they expect.
My good friend, Chris Cappy, is a world expert on large-scale change, has a great philosophy on getting ideas. He always says, “I won’t learn less.” When we get ideas and suggestions, we may learn more – but we won’t learn less. Get in the habit of asking the important people in your life, “How can I be a better…?”
This works at work – in your efforts to become a better leader, team member, or co-worker.
This works at home – in your efforts to become a better friend or family member.
____
Like most good advice, these are easy to understand and agree with but hard to practise! Formal appraisals are one situation where we have to give feedback. Many find it difficult to do so they opt to give vague, generally positive comments and avoid providing negative feedback. If timely feedback is given throughout the year, it becomes easy to summarize the highlights at the formal annual appraisal. If specific events are noted down to quote as examples, the discussion can be more focused and fruitful.
Everybody these days seems to express a desire to receive feedback but the more accomplished the person, the more defensive the reaction to feedback. Pragati Leadership Institute suggests receiving feedback like 'prasad’, the blessing in the form of a sweet distributed in a temple. Even if one were to refrain from consuming it for medical or hygienic reasons, one would dispose of it discreetly and not offend the giver by refusing it.
| #262: On Belief |
#262-1. If something exists, it must be possible.
-Amory Bloch Lovins (b. 1947), experimental physicist and environmentalist
#262-2. They were so strong in their beliefs that there came a time when it hardly mattered what exactly those beliefs were; they all fused into a single stubbornness.
-Louise Erdrich, (b. 1954), author
#262-3. Men are generally idle, and ready to satisfy themselves, and intimidate the industry of others, by calling that impossible which is only difficult.
-Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), English author, critic, & lexicographer
____
Though the original context could have been different, the quote could help us catch ourselves from the common phenomenon of denial. It could be a software developer's first reaction to a tester, "There is no bug!" It could be a manager saying the product cannot be maintained at the same quality and sold at a lower price when told that a competitor is doing precisely that.
Such an ostrich-like attitude when persistently demonstrated by groups of people, can lead to dangerous situations.
All this might have started innocuously out of sheer mental laziness. Tim Hurson says in his book, "Think Better" that productive thinking is hard work because nature and evolution have designed our brain to take efficient shortcuts in the form of well-set patterns.
-Amory Bloch Lovins (b. 1947), experimental physicist and environmentalist
#262-2. They were so strong in their beliefs that there came a time when it hardly mattered what exactly those beliefs were; they all fused into a single stubbornness.
-Louise Erdrich, (b. 1954), author
#262-3. Men are generally idle, and ready to satisfy themselves, and intimidate the industry of others, by calling that impossible which is only difficult.
-Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784), English author, critic, & lexicographer
____
Though the original context could have been different, the quote could help us catch ourselves from the common phenomenon of denial. It could be a software developer's first reaction to a tester, "There is no bug!" It could be a manager saying the product cannot be maintained at the same quality and sold at a lower price when told that a competitor is doing precisely that.
Such an ostrich-like attitude when persistently demonstrated by groups of people, can lead to dangerous situations.
All this might have started innocuously out of sheer mental laziness. Tim Hurson says in his book, "Think Better" that productive thinking is hard work because nature and evolution have designed our brain to take efficient shortcuts in the form of well-set patterns.
| #261: On Balance in the Journey |
#261-1. Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and love and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls—family,health, friends and love—are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.
-Bryan Dyson, former CEO of Coca Cola
(Thanks to Durgaprasad Kulkarni for sharing this.)
#261-2. If the path is beautiful, let's not ask where it leads. And if the destination is beautiful, let's not ask how the path is.
-Anon
(Thanks to Chandan Relan for sharing this.)
#261-3. If someone has written a good poem, we need not throw it away because of a few mistakes in spelling. If it is a bad poem, correct spelling will not save it from the dustbin.
-Dwaraknath Reddy, former chairman of Nutrine group and spiritual author, in "Gentle Breeze, Rustling Leaves"
____
The need for and presence of balance is a profound lesson we periodically learn from nature and even human affairs. I like to point out, especially to younger folk, that balance is useful only when imbalance has been achieved. A pre-requisite on the path of career success is to overdo, to tilt in some direction before even contemplating balance. Excellence is extreme and one at least has to be aspire for and pursue it. Balance need not imply holding back, one could achieve balance by developing interests in different domains of life.
A destination may make the hard journey worthwhile, but many times we do not know whether it is so. Exploring without a predetermined goal is not always bad.
One may ask what makes a poem ‘bad’? This is the kind of question that the octagenarian Mr. Reddy would appreciate. His book, “Birth Play and Finale of Mind” that logically and humorously explores consciousness and science’s difficulty in dealing with it, is unfortunately not widely available.
-Bryan Dyson, former CEO of Coca Cola
(Thanks to Durgaprasad Kulkarni for sharing this.)
#261-2. If the path is beautiful, let's not ask where it leads. And if the destination is beautiful, let's not ask how the path is.
-Anon
(Thanks to Chandan Relan for sharing this.)
#261-3. If someone has written a good poem, we need not throw it away because of a few mistakes in spelling. If it is a bad poem, correct spelling will not save it from the dustbin.
-Dwaraknath Reddy, former chairman of Nutrine group and spiritual author, in "Gentle Breeze, Rustling Leaves"
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The need for and presence of balance is a profound lesson we periodically learn from nature and even human affairs. I like to point out, especially to younger folk, that balance is useful only when imbalance has been achieved. A pre-requisite on the path of career success is to overdo, to tilt in some direction before even contemplating balance. Excellence is extreme and one at least has to be aspire for and pursue it. Balance need not imply holding back, one could achieve balance by developing interests in different domains of life.
A destination may make the hard journey worthwhile, but many times we do not know whether it is so. Exploring without a predetermined goal is not always bad.
One may ask what makes a poem ‘bad’? This is the kind of question that the octagenarian Mr. Reddy would appreciate. His book, “Birth Play and Finale of Mind” that logically and humorously explores consciousness and science’s difficulty in dealing with it, is unfortunately not widely available.
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