Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Just a thought..

The safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death.
- Voltaire

And the first step would be to listen to what our conscience has to say...

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Tightroping life with 'Conscious Balance'

Many decisions in Life resemble a tightrope walk. And, we deal with these decisions based choices made on informational inputs and our own world-view. While choices are common to every situation and every person, its how we choose that makes all the difference.

Our choices in every situation rest on various factors. In a case of a real tightrope walk, it would start with our assessment of the environmental 'wind-factor', on the tension in the tightrope et al to arrive at an extremely complex decision of the foot placement and the next step. The final result of a successful tightrope walk in its entireity can be called 'Conscious Balance'.

The term 'tightroping' is usually used to demonstrate delicate maneuvering over precarious terrain. Lets apply the same term to Life. Here, we often think that we've been doled out a situation and after assessment of its significance we choose to deal with it in a manner we believe would give the best results in such a situation.

Life's situations, more often than not, are not just about chosing a response to a situation, they are more about whether we want to treat any situation as the tightrope equivalent or as an ordinary one. Its our definition of the situation that determines how we will react to it. We often believe that significant situations handled extremely well connotate success. However this is not the only truth. Significant achievement and outcomes emerge from several factors. These we could club under the overall concept of 'Conscious Balance'

First important step in achieving Conscious Balance (CB) is the recognition that the current situation, no matter how small it may seem, deserves to be treated with the care that one would employ in tightroping. Prominence of achievements is not based on the WHAT, but on the HOW of things. The important thing for us to realize is that each thing we do, each action we take, and every situation that life deals out to us can be significant, depending on the way we treat the situation. The choice is ours to make it a significant situation or not.

Another critical factor in achieving Conscious Balance is to know the environment, or to know the things which impact the situation. These are not, however, limited to the aspects which impact the outcome of the situation alone, but instead these are ALL things which impact the situation and the interaction they have among them. As a dynamic entity the environment has to be seen as such, even considering the manner in which the observer impacts the situation.

Knowledge and our interpretation of the same is the next important step to achieving Conscious Balance. To achieve a good Conscious Balance, one that will give complete success in all situations it is important to have a well-rounded world-view where many perspectives are allowed co-exist. This part of the balance is about accepting various points of view as existing, without having any one opinion overshadow any other in your observation of the situation. Rigid viewpoints are the antithesis of balance and therefore not conducive situations to achieving Conscious Balance.

The fourth important point to make significant achivements of everything you do, is to know the pace of progress. Too slow and too fast both can be impediments to being successful. To understand one's own pace (as against a borrowed pace that is usually achieved by comparing one to the rest of the world) is not about complacence. In fact its quite the opposite - To discover your own pace, you need to constantly race yourself, test your limits and try and achieve the most. With each step, you must be better; with each try you must be faster. Knowing your pace is one of the most critical success factors of Conscious Balance.

The final way to continuously strive towards better Conscious Balance is through practice. No amount of practice is enough and its best seen in the sports arena. A little out of practice and the selection board decides against you. Continous practice or skill honing is as necessary for new skills as it is for the existing skill-set. This is done to hard-wire & automate the actions required in any particular situation leading to a 'Do-without-thinking' approach.

Conscious Balance, in conclusion, is unique concept that allows a system approach to success, a sum total of the internal forces that allows us to make significant achivements from each of life's situations. Apply the rules of tightroping to everything you do in life, and you'll find successes in everything you do (and not be searching for them in things you do!)

Monday, December 15, 2008

We have a choice..


Just today I was watching the show ‘We the People’ in which a participant read out a line which stated that:

“There is no office higher than that of being a Citizen”

A very relevant idea in the current scenario. This comment was made in the midst of a debate where it was pointed out that no matter how angry the ordinary citizen may feel, he cannot bring about change; that is what we appoint politicians to do. It’s their job to run the country. That is what we pay taxes for!!

Well, we all know it’s their job, but if they don’t do their job right, what do we do?!

Can we, as citizens, wash our hands off this? And if we do, who is the ultimate loser? It’s, again, the common man. So it’s time we wake up to the fact that we all have a responsibility towards ourselves and towards our country. This is not the time to ask what the country does for you but what is it that you can do for the country.

It has been encouraging, at this time, to see people coming together and raising their voice against the apathy of the bureaucracy and the political leadership, demanding a secure life and greater accountability from the system.

But what about us; what about the common man, the ordinary citizen of the country?!! What are we doing to bring about the change?

The attack on Mumbai has shaken up people, and the ordinary man, who earlier wanted to stay away from politics, is now actively following the goings-on in parliament. The youth is discussing politics, even to the extent of joining in and making a difference. People are taking the government and the armed forces more seriously; faith in the police has been restored to some extent. This is very important for the functioning for the state. People want to pay taxes and contribute to the nation. Politicians are now thinking twice before making any comments which may back-fire on them. The scene in parliament has changed completely; where earlier there was chaos and walkouts being staged, now there is debate and discussion and the government and the opposition are at least putting up a united front to the world. This is all a result of the citizens’ movements who have come together and made demands for the change.

The country-wide protests did make a difference, but the fervour is slowly dying down, the voices are getting subdued, the daily routine is taking over and we’re starting to forget. This is natural. One cannot march in protest every week. That too will stop being effective if it becomes commonplace. Anger is a tool to be used wisely.

So what do we do if we don’t protest? What else will make a difference? What else will bring about change?

Again I must quote the oft-repeated words of Gandhi:

“You must become the change you wish to see in the world”.

And why not..

The change needed is not only in the political system but in the social system as well.

Today we as citizens must resolve that we will do everything in our power to bring about a positive difference in our everyday lives.

It’s so simple and yet so complicated.

* It’s about the choice between paying the fine and bribing the traffic policeman – Choose to pay the fine.
* Choosing between voting and not being bothered – Choose to vote.
* Choosing between paying tax or evading tax – Choose to pay tax.
* Choosing between stopping at a red light or running through – Choose to stop.
* Choosing between buying your gadgets from the grey market or from legitimate sources – Choose the legitimate source.
* Choosing to buy an official railway ticket or bribing the TC – Choose to book it officially.
* Choosing to reach the airport in time for efficient security checks or sending that last mail – Choose to reach on time.
* Choosing to be quiet in the face of divisive forces or speaking your mind – Choose to speak your mind.

Finally, it’s the choice between right and wrong – choose the right.

Like I said, it’s simple, yet so complicated. It’s about a struggle every minute of every day to exercise your mind and do what is right instead of giving in to conditioned responses. Stop and think – and then do what you feel is right.

I recently received an sms which is about personal freedom. It goes thus, “The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the majority. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes afraid; but no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself”. Similarly, no price is too high to pay for doing what is right, even if you are alone in that and if the majority is against you.

This is what I hope, we the citizens of the country, can imbibe in ourselves and in our children to bring about the change that we all hope to see.

- Meghna Gill
It’s not the decision you face, it’s the choice you make.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Musings of a Mumbai taxi driver

Enroute the airport, my Sunday afternoon cab driver commented on a probable errant motorist caught by a traffic policeman on the opposite side of the road. "Vo dekhiye , that vehical will have to pay a Two Hundred Rupee fine Saab", he said, talking into his rear view mirror.

Readjusting focus from my reverie, cab-courtsey demanded that I ask him what he meant, and I did.

"Saab, Life has changed since the recent attacks on Mumbai. The policemen are not bothering taxiwalas that much for minor transgressions like wrong parking nowadays. Lagta hai ki things are really changing. I am quite taken by surprise that I have not been approached for a single Rupee in fine and neither have have I paid a paisa in bribes in the last 3 days", he recounted adding on its heels "And, I usually would reserve Fifty rupees for the policemen everday".

He further explained to me that the smallest bribe could become the reason for the biggest carnage. When we ignore the small bribes, the large ones become more acceptable he said in a typical Guru-like fashion. Without blaming the policemen, he came to their rescue with a commercial logic to stopping bribes; "Should'nt blame the police saab - In fact, I earn more than some of them", he continued, "The Government must see a direct logic incentivizing fine-collection by sharing some of the collections with the policemen, just like the railways does with its ticket-checkers. I would rather pay double to the Government than half as a bribe."

The ratioinale has always been clear to everyone, but when the Mumbai man-on-the-street uses such impeccable logic, I would say that Change is inevitable.

As the cab turned into the Mumbai domestic airport I saw another traffic policeman write out a reciept to a young woman in a car, who was paying her dues without a plea or argument. I smiled at the Guru-vachan , showing me evidence of Change at the traffic signal.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Mightier than the sword...

Though I would usually reserve my comments about any publication, I think this initiative deserves attention. This morning, I was extremely pleasantly surprised to see the front page of ET. It had only positive news. Then I saw the anchor advertisement from IBM and it said STOP TALKING START DOING and seemed to reinforce the positivity of the front page.

There could be two possibilities - either the editorial team at ET has been very creative or its marketing team has. I am really not worried about which is the cause and which the effect because, either way, there are many learnings that everyone can draw from this.

Most importantly, ET demonstrated what was seemingly impossible; that despite the current circumstances, the front page of a leading business publication can be fully positive. The front page news headlines were Home loan rates cut, Global telcos dial RCOM for stake, Big guns eye Andhra Cements, HCL to complete Axon deal, India Inc beats slowdown blues, and some more... Today's ET front page transported me back to a few months when there was no stopping the Indian juggernaut. Also, from the make of the news the Indian slowdown seemed to have shaken off quite completely and decisively.

The lessons to be learnt are many, but I am going to stick to the most basic. The reason that publications weild their enormous power is because the readers get influenced by them. While thoughts have the power to generate words, Words too have the power to influence thought. Positive news, usage of positive words, naturally tend to create a more positive spirit and outlook in the reader. Positive outlook in turn helps get positive action which in turn gives better outputs & outcomes.

I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that today's front page was a result of an editorial meet. I just hope that the surprise that met most ET readers in the morning, will become a more long-term editorial policy through direct choice of giving preference to positive news over negative ones. Chances are that if it works, other publications may also make the choice towards creating positive change.

There's more. And at the outset I must state my position, lest someone mistake my intent. I truly dont mind it even if today's ET front page was a consequence of a brilliant marketing effort. In fact, quite to the contrary of taking offense, I think the anchor advertisement in the front page reinforces its viability because it shows that positive news makes commercial sense too. If IBM had not advertised in the page, the initiative may not be sustainable. However, because this initiative made monetary sense to someone of IBM's stature, I am confident that this has the makings of a movement.

See the sense it would make to businesses. Businesses, as much as anyone else, want the optimism to return in the environment and they are willing to support it by advertising where positive news will occur. It brings positive connotations to the company advertising in that page. Maybe this will even see a new category of advertising (a request for placement of an advertisement near positive news).

Thus could begin an intrinsic positive movement. Companies choose to advertise in pages which have more positive news; and as more corporates see the rationale of doing this, more positive news will be chosen over the negative ones and this will begin generating positive influence on the environment, and finally there will a positive sentiment in the environment. I know it is simplistic rather than simple, but this is the bird's eye view. Deeper down, there could be smaller positive cycles to this larger socio-economic positive system.

This therefore brings us the question of responsibility. While publications have a responsibility, we must remember that it is the readers and the news generators that the publications reflect. To the primary audience, the reader I urge that if they see merit in the initiative of positive news they must make the opinion count by talking, writing about it. To the generators of news, the corporates, it is extremely important that they take specific care they also make the choice; the choice of generating news through positive associations than through negative ones.

If all of us do our bit, India will truly look like the front page of the ET today.

To see the article please visit http://www.bluebytes.info/Attachments/ET.jpg

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

New Preamble for India

Change is here - at your doorstep, calling out to you. You can choose to listen, or not. You can choose to participate or be a spectator.

A new preamble echos in collective reverberance,

“We the People of India want positive CHANGE.
And, we will AWAKEN THIS CHANGE in ourselves by action.
We will not take our JUSTICE, LIBERTY, & LIFE for granted;
And will RAISE OUR VOICE against those who are unjust,
And we will ACT against those who coerce, threaten and intimidate our loved ones.
We will not accept TODAY as it is; and we will start with change closest to us,
We will be the CATALYST for change in our us, our friends, family and in SOCIETY.
We will NOT TIRE, we will NOT STOP.
Starting today, starting now, we will be the creators of our own DESTINY.”