Pearls of Wisdom which I received in Kolkata
Been a long time since I wrote but, I am sure that in the coming days, much to the delight of a few of my friends, I will be writing on a more regular basis.
Last week, I was in Kolkata to attend the wedding of one of my closest friends. I stayed at an old family friend's place. Sunday afternoon was spent chatting with his son who is a Regional Manager at a Healthcare Company. It was an enriching conversation and below are a few pearls of wisdom which he gave me.
INCOME = EXPENDITURE
For a healthy life, income must always be equal to expenditure. Now I know what most would be thinking and trust me, the same thought were running in my mind as well. If income is equal to expenditure, then I will always be broke! He went on to say, Yes, your bank balance should always be zero. By now I was completely confused. Was it the mid day vodka snack which was talking or was he going to make some sense. Then he says, " I am not talking about your monetary condition, not in the least bit." He was referring to food intake. Yes, today most of us have a sedentary lifestyle, sitting in front of a computer screen and pushing buttons all day long or in case of amy of our friends who are in the BPO Industry, all night long. Our lifestyle is such, that income (Food & beverages) are only on the increase and Expenditure is minimal. So he said, if you are using public transport, then ensure you get off at least 2 kms away from home and walk home at a fast pace. If you use a car, then even if your office is on the 8th floor, use the stairs while going up. While coming down, there is no reason why you should'nt be using the stairs. And trust me, he is supremely fit, has'nt gained a single gram of weight since he finished college 15 years back.
BE DISCIPLINED LIKE YOUR MOTHER
How many times have you called in sick at work? Well, I have done it and I am sure that most of us as diligent and hard working as we may be, would have done it at some point of time. But How many times have you heard your mother calling in sick when your dad had to leave for office and you had to leave for school? Never!! I am sure with a few exceptional cases, everyone would agree with this. When you were small, how many times, did you have to wear a dirty uniform or clothes which weren't ironed to school? My guess is never. Come what may, the water would be warm for a bath in the morning, a neatly ironed set of uniform would be waiting after a bath, polished shoes, sumptuous breakfast along with some yummy food in the tiffin box. Lunch would be ready when you got back home from school. On an exceptionally hot day, some refreshing lemon juice would also be waiting in the Refrigerator. And come rain or sunshine, all this would always be done. So when each one of us have been brought up by someone who is so disciplined, why is that some many of us are unable to replicate the same kind of discipline in our careers, our lifestyle and other day to day activities. I guess it made lot of sense, and the fact that it was coming from a person who handled business in 11 States of India for his company, he was definitely practising what he was preaching.
THERE IS NO "I WILL DO IT" IN THIS WORLD.
As the old saying goes, "Let your actions speak louder than your words". Its so true. At then end of the month, when your boss asks, "What are the numbers?", you cant turn around and say that this month I was unable to do so I will do it next month. There is nothing like next tomorrow, next month or next year. Its always today, now and I have done it. That's the only way you earn respect in any group, when you focus on results rather than on activity.
Well these were the few pearls of wisdom which I got from him. I know, most of you would say that this is common sense. But then, how many of us practice it.
Last week, I was in Kolkata to attend the wedding of one of my closest friends. I stayed at an old family friend's place. Sunday afternoon was spent chatting with his son who is a Regional Manager at a Healthcare Company. It was an enriching conversation and below are a few pearls of wisdom which he gave me.
INCOME = EXPENDITURE
For a healthy life, income must always be equal to expenditure. Now I know what most would be thinking and trust me, the same thought were running in my mind as well. If income is equal to expenditure, then I will always be broke! He went on to say, Yes, your bank balance should always be zero. By now I was completely confused. Was it the mid day vodka snack which was talking or was he going to make some sense. Then he says, " I am not talking about your monetary condition, not in the least bit." He was referring to food intake. Yes, today most of us have a sedentary lifestyle, sitting in front of a computer screen and pushing buttons all day long or in case of amy of our friends who are in the BPO Industry, all night long. Our lifestyle is such, that income (Food & beverages) are only on the increase and Expenditure is minimal. So he said, if you are using public transport, then ensure you get off at least 2 kms away from home and walk home at a fast pace. If you use a car, then even if your office is on the 8th floor, use the stairs while going up. While coming down, there is no reason why you should'nt be using the stairs. And trust me, he is supremely fit, has'nt gained a single gram of weight since he finished college 15 years back.
BE DISCIPLINED LIKE YOUR MOTHER
How many times have you called in sick at work? Well, I have done it and I am sure that most of us as diligent and hard working as we may be, would have done it at some point of time. But How many times have you heard your mother calling in sick when your dad had to leave for office and you had to leave for school? Never!! I am sure with a few exceptional cases, everyone would agree with this. When you were small, how many times, did you have to wear a dirty uniform or clothes which weren't ironed to school? My guess is never. Come what may, the water would be warm for a bath in the morning, a neatly ironed set of uniform would be waiting after a bath, polished shoes, sumptuous breakfast along with some yummy food in the tiffin box. Lunch would be ready when you got back home from school. On an exceptionally hot day, some refreshing lemon juice would also be waiting in the Refrigerator. And come rain or sunshine, all this would always be done. So when each one of us have been brought up by someone who is so disciplined, why is that some many of us are unable to replicate the same kind of discipline in our careers, our lifestyle and other day to day activities. I guess it made lot of sense, and the fact that it was coming from a person who handled business in 11 States of India for his company, he was definitely practising what he was preaching.
THERE IS NO "I WILL DO IT" IN THIS WORLD.
As the old saying goes, "Let your actions speak louder than your words". Its so true. At then end of the month, when your boss asks, "What are the numbers?", you cant turn around and say that this month I was unable to do so I will do it next month. There is nothing like next tomorrow, next month or next year. Its always today, now and I have done it. That's the only way you earn respect in any group, when you focus on results rather than on activity.
Well these were the few pearls of wisdom which I got from him. I know, most of you would say that this is common sense. But then, how many of us practice it.
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