Gerald D'Cunha

“I t takes twenty long years to become an overnight success.” This used to be Dr. Deepak’s – let me call him only Deepak in this blog – constant reminder to the young ones in our PD sessions. He has been my student, friend, well-wisher, associate and, above all, teacher… However ironical it may seem! Deepak knew the profound message packed in the statement he was making… Life was tough for him and his two brothers while growing up. Their father, a technician, had shut down his small business due to financial setbacks… and dreams of becoming ‘somebody' in life seemed difficult and distant. They lived in a one-room house with common toilet… Studied in the reading room facility provided by a local organization… Worked hard and achieved whatever they have on sheer merit. Deepak became a doctor in Psychiatry (He chose to use his expertise in the Corporate sector in order to fulfill his desire to train, lead and inspire)… Rupak became a Catholic Priest (He is, presen...

Pic.: Sherry Haridas S ome days back, I called up one of our Society’s watchmen. “Mishra*, are you busy,” I asked, “Can you come here for a minute?” “Yes, sir... I will be there in a minute,” Mishra said enthusiastically. “You are the Chairman of the Society,” the man next to me, who had overheard the conversation, reminded me, “Don’t ask ‘Can you come?’... Order him to come!” I hid what I wanted to say to this man behind my smile: “My friend, my mom taught me so... and, I have been teaching, for years, this to my students. But, there in the village, my mom did not know it was called – ‘Manners and Etiquette’. She just knew that’s how it was supposed to be!" T here is a power that stems from our positions – as a Minister, a Police Commissioner, a CEO, a Judge, an Income-tax officer, a Chairman, a Secretary, a Principal, a Captain, a parent, a teacher, a doctor, an advocate, and, even, as a compounder of a doctor or a peon in a government office.....

I came across this quote from Mr. Ratan Tata: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But, if you want to walk far, walk together.” No wonder, the Tata empire has endured this long! And, what applies to an organization also applies to an individual. The principles of growth and success remain the same. So, before the journey begins, every organization and every individual has to decide: whether to walk fast or walk far… The urge to walk fast stems from our innate competitive mindset. It is inherently founded on insecurity and distrust. It is a shortsighted – Win-at-any-cost – approach. Yes, this approach has the potential of taking us ahead of others, and fast. But, as it is founded on fear and distrust, it would be lonely out there, when we reach there… and, it will, always, rob us of our true feeling of success and fulfillment. The rat race is for those who want to reach fast. Many of these organizations and indivi...