Friday Reflections

What is this life if, full of care......

POINT TO PONDER

While taking a stroll in commonwealth park in Boston during my visit in May, I stopped by a park bench to take a short rest. As I was sitting, my eyes rested on a little plaque underneath the bench.

This very profound message reminded me of William Henry Davies' poem, Leisure. 

REFLECTION What is this Life If Full of Care by Davies.

Pictures by Anand, Dave, Ray, Shinji and Boon Seng in 1H 2012.

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. 

 
            (Birthplace of Silicon Valley)                                                      (Fenway Park)

No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheeps or cows.

 

No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. 

 

 

No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night

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No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance

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No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.

 

A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. 

   

 

The Price of "Un"

POINT TO PONDER

"Somehow, we got into a discussion of the responsibility of management. Holden made the point that management's responsibility is to the shareholders – that's the end of it. And I objected. I said, 'I think you're absolutely wrong. Management has a responsibility to its employees, it has a responsibility to its customers, it has a responsibility to the community at large.' And they almost laughed me out of the room."

                                                – David Packard, Stanford Magazine

As a practical matter, ethical conduct cannot be assured by written policies and codes; it must be an integral part of the organization (family, company), a deeply ingrained tradition that is passed from one generation of children/employees to another.

STORY LINE 

Stories of “Un”-compromising Integrity (five out of many that I have gathered over the years)

1. In mid 80s it was a normal industry practice to include expenditure for material/product REWORK as part of annual plans. The director of the organization I worked for recognized that in order to be "the world-class manufacturing company" we needed to be, the behavior of doing things right first time had to become second nature. He issued the mandate of “NO REWORK” in manufacturing. The plant managers gladly accepted the challenge. A few weeks after the policy change, one rather large lot of expensive products with a high revenue potential were mislabeled. The manager of the plant came up with multiple reasons, requests, apologies, promises: “let me ship this time, promise it will never happen again...” In response, our Director stood firm with his 'NO REWORK' directive. Financially, it was a substantial loss but that action had tremendous impact on people's subsequent behaviors - resulting in a serious focus on preventive actions and providing real life lessons in leadership. He was leading by example. Many years later, he went on to become the CEO of that company. 
2. Back in India, during my school days, we used to have an annual celebration day. In addition to many fun activities, we had one special event where all the students would get together in our stadium, sing the school anthem, and participate in a flag raising ceremony. The unique part was that the person who would raise the flag was our school janitor, Trikam, and all of us (mostly children from the “upper class”) were supposed to salute him at the end of the ceremony, shake hands with him, and thank him for his services. Trikam was from a class which was not only considered lower but “untouchable.” Despite protests from wealthy parents and threats to pull substantial donations, our school principal, Vajubhai, stuck true to the Gandhian ideals that our school was committed to. 
3. In 1977, I was leaving my company to return to university for a higher degree. Sheldon Taylor, the manager of our group, called me in to his office to discuss my plans after graduation. Sheldon promised support if I returned to the company after I completed school. While I was in school, one day I received a call from none other than Sheldon. He told me that he was leaving the company for another opportunity but he had informed incoming management about the commitment he had made to me. The last thing said, “call me if you have any problems.” When I completed school, the new management offered me the job that Sheldon had committed. I have not spoken to him since, but I have never forgotten him and the commitment he delivered on.  
4. In a community college parking lot, a teenage boy that we know left a very small scratch on the car next to his when he opened his car door. No one was around but he still left a note on the scratched car with his name and phone number. Later that evening, the father of the girl who owned that scratched car called. The first thing he said was, “I want to specially thank you for leaving a note even though the scratch is insignificant. I am not sure my daughter would have done the same.” Ultimately, it costs $350 to get the scratch removed. Years later, the same boy’s car was left badly dented in a Union Square parking lot by someone who did not leave a note with his/her phone number. Upon coming home, sad and angry, he asked his father, “what do I do next time when I scratch or dent someone’s car,” to which the dad replied, “same thing you did the first time.” 
5. “There is too much money on the table. Just sign the deal and then we will figure out,” is what the VP of sales ordered the operations VP (1987). But Gary, the VP of Ops, refused because the company did not have the capability to deliver the level of performance in the time period the customer wanted. Gary was called many names; “simple minded technician” and “naïve” being a couple. Instead, he was honest with the customer and let them know when they could realistically deliver on the customers request. Ultimately, we got their business and later learned from the customer that our competitor was not capable of completing in the alloted time and appreciated our honesty.

 

REFLECTION

I have collected many examples of Uncompromising values through the years. Putting the word/letters “Un” in front of anything has huge implications, associated costs, and consequneces both positive and negative. "Un" means not compromising no matter the temtation or price one might have to pay. "Un" is a huge commitment requiring uncompromising focus and adherance. For me personally, I strive for uncompromising values but do not claim to be there. Just the other day, one of my staff members pointed out the hypocracy in my actions vs my words and I thank her for that. There are still so many things that all of us need to learn and do everyday, myself especially. 

For the Love of It

POINT TO PONDER

Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.  

                                                - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

STORY LINE by David Hightower

Now that summer is here and graduation has passed a fresh new crop of “worker bees” is entering the labor force.  This is arguably the greatest transition in a young adults life.  Having to adapt from the cushy student life to the somber reality of the working world can be difficult for some.  And the decision of how one wants to make a living can be downright intimidating.

I recently attended the graduation of my little brother from Boston College where Bob Woodruff delivered the commencement address.  And although I’m embarrassed to admit it, I didn’t expect much.  Boy was I sadly mistaken.  Instead Mr. Woodruff delivered a terrific speech that should provide genuine inspiration to young adults entering “the real world”.

Everyone probably remembers Bob Woodruff as the ABC news anchor that nearly died in Iraq in 2006 when an IED exploded right outside of the Hum-V he was being transported in.  Although he sustained life-threatening injuries, Mr. Woodruff miraculously survived and was able to return home to his family.

But what inspired me more than the story of his extraordinary recovery was the story of why he became a foreign war correspondent in the first place.  

A one time successful attorney, Mr. Woodruff gave up his comfortable life (and nice paycheck) upon his return home from experiencing the sheer terror of the Tiananmen Square incident. Witnessing such a tragic event had stirred the depths of his soul and completely changed his priorities.  Bob found he had a duty to let the world know of the horrific atrocities committed that day.

In fact, Mr. Woodruff discovered such a passion for telling stories that he and his wife gave up everything to move to California and survive on food stamps, just so that he could follow his dreams of becoming a reporter.  And even though it required starting at the bottom and working his way up, Bob realized the importance of following his passion.  Without it, he could never truly be happy no matter how much money he made.

 

REFLECTION

This is something that young people just cannot seem to grasp in this day and age.  Follow your passion, not the almighty dollar.  A higher paycheck does not necessarily correlate with greater success or a happier outlook in life.  But doing what you truly love means never having to work a day in your life.  

Rarely do you hear that someone regrets following his / her passion, even if it doesn’t work out exactly as planned.  Although it nearly cost him his life, Bob Woodruff would choose to leave the legal profession and become a reporter all over again.

Can You Feel the Power?

 
 

POINT TO PONDER

“There's something just as inevitable as death. And that's life.

Think of the power of the universe — turning the Earth, growing the trees.

That's the same power within you — if you'll only have the courage and the will to use it.”

                                                -Charlie Chaplin: “My Autobiography”

 

STORY LINE by Rajiv Shah

I was vacationing in Mexico not too long ago and while I was there I went bodysurfing for the first time. No board was involved in this type of wave riding, just pure technique, throwing your body into a wave at the right moment in the hopes of catching it and riding it all the way into the shore. Or at least, that's what I thought.

It turns out there is more to it than that. As I was trying to catch wave after wave, most passing right under me or slamming me into the sand, another traveler called out to me:

    "Can you feel what the wave is doing?"

    I didn't know what he meant and shrugged. I tried to catch the next one - I got slammed again.

    "That's your problem, you're not tuned into what the wave is giving you."

    It was like a cherubic, sunburnt Bodhi had stepped out from Point Break trying to impart dimestore surfer wisdom to me.

    "What's the wave giving me," I asked.

    "Everything man. You're just too busy trying to catch it, you gotta let it come to you, take you. You don't ride it man, you just go with it. But for now, keep your feet up if you're lucky enough to rise into the wave."

    A set was coming in and I began to paddle ahead of the wave. It was strong and I let my feet drift upwards like Chubby Bodhi said, and I let go... The wave picked me up and for a moment I was scared, I wanted to put my feet down in the sand, I wasn't sure where this was going - if I'd get pounded face first into the sand and break my neck, if my feet were high enough, or if I was really in the wave at all - but I could feel its power under my body. I was being pushed, water slapping me in the face, the tide pulling at my shorts, but I let it take me.

    And before I knew what happened - I was on the shore, whitewater receding behind me. I looked back and realized I had rode the wave all the way in. Chubby Bodhi gave me a thumbs up. 

 

REFLECTION

When I got out of the water I thought about why surfers are such a loose bunch (not always but from all the Spicoli stereotypes it seems that's what I've come to know of them) and came to the understanding that they are trying to tap into an energy larger than themselves - an energy communicated through the ocean, the earth - that you can't control. A wave will come when it wants at whatever force it wants, and all you can do is listen to it and become a part of it, sharing that energy with yours for those moments.

    Then I realized living life is much like the way people catch waves: either we fight and try to force what we want on it, or we give over, listen to what it is giving us and we take the ride, letting it take us as far as we can go. Giving over, listening, and coming together with a force larger than your own - now that's power.