The Catch-Dumb Fred Episode 2

Point to ponder: Experience is not what happens to a person, it is what a person does with what has happened to him or her. – Aldous Huxley

Storyline: The Catch (or to be precise: the one that got away).

Every life has stories and associated experiences; seemingly positive or negative.  What we are now is the result of what we have learnt from the lessons and converted them into useful practices. Here is one such story. Dumb Fred Episode 2.  

When Fred was in high school, he joined the school cricket team. On one fine day his school team was playing a match against top notch championship team. The star player of the league from that team was at bat. Fred was sent into the game by the coach to fill-in for another player. While Fred was trying to straighten out the patch of grass in front of him the bowler had already started his run for the pitch. The star player hit the ball which headed right in the direction of Fred.

 Who knows at which precise moment one’s fortune can change?

It is in the split second decisions/actions that fortunes are made or lost. One person becomes Willy Mays and the other....? One company becomes Microsoft and the other, IDR, disappears from the map.

 If the ball was caught it would have been a great honor for the team, the bowler and Fred. It might have hit the news headlines. Unfortunately Fred’s attention to ball came too late. It was a very easy catch but the ball snuck out of Fred’s unprepared hands. Immediately Fred was pulled out of the game and assigned scorekeeping duties. The next day during school assembly, the coach described that scene to all students. Fred accepted responsibility knowing fully well that he had let the team down.

“It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honored by the humiliation of their fellow beings.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

However the coach could not let go his anger and told Fred never to come near the cricket field. Fred accepted that as punishment. One would think that would be the closure. However the episode did not end there.

During the annual celebration, many students were being recognized for achievement in different areas. The parents and special guests were invited. The announcer was calling different names and suddenly, to Fred’s surprise, his name was announced. Fred Williams- the best score keeper. Fred was surprised but proceeded towards the special guest standing next to the principal and the coach who were having hard time containing the laughter.

 The benefit of being Dumb is not to know the difference between humiliation and celebration….

Half of the audience who knew the intent was laughing and many others who didn’t were clapping. After the awards ceremony, some people came to congratulate Fred not knowing that the award was given to make fun of him rather than for any tangible achievement. Fred went home and showed the award to his mother, who not being cricket literate, jumped with joy and hugged him.

Fred had not grasped the real motive until the next day while having lunch with two regular buddies. They sympathetically inquired how he felt about the previous day. Fred told them that he felt good because he had noticed people enjoying while he went to take the award. Only when his friends explained that it was to humiliate him for dropping that catch, it sunk in a bit.

Two years later on the graduation day while Fred was saying final goodbye to fellow students and teachers, the coach approached him and said the parting words “I will always remember you for that (dropped) catch.”

A Thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Even 50 years later, some fellow students remember that incident and have lighthearted fun with Fred. (Surprisingly none of them remembers who had the highest runs or wickets)

Reflection: "Every problem/experience we have, comes at the time when we need it the most to go to the next level. But we must learn that lesson first." - Dennis Waitley

There are many lessons Fred learnt from that episode that carried on in career and life.

1. Do not take your eye off the ball when someone has entrusted you with responsibility. He followed this rigorously in career with commitments, resources and people. (customers, investors, employees and suppliers)
2. Never humiliate another human being; and especially in public for any reason. Mistakes are inevitable part of life. There were times when two employees made major mistakes and some senior people wanted “heads to roll”. Fred stood up for them and reconfirmed his confidence in their abilities. They became major assets and made significant contributions to the company. (No humiliation and show confidence in your team members.)
3. Parting words are very important. Better to recount good memories rather than take parting shots. Especially when the employees is leaving the team or you are leaving the team. A few kind words about shared experiences will go a long long way. .
4. Hate the sin and not the sinner*. The Principal and The Coach were victims of the system and the thinking of the times. So were many things that Fred did in his school years. Life is nothing but a great learning experience. Many years later, Fred visited the school. Three of them had some nice lighter moments talking about old days and the lessons learnt.

*from the autobiography of Gandhi.

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1023338-hate-the-sin-and-not-the-sinner-is-a-precept

Reference -Dumb Fred Original Story: Dumb Fred Episode 1

Comments

[sujat]

A wonderful experience reading and trying to digest this. Anot impactful account and precious lessons listed that are not easy to forget. I stand richer today. Thank you for sharing, Anandkaka. 😊🙏

[High School Friend]

Really this is very positive thinking of yours In the story.

[In Awe!]

Experience is not just what happens to a person; it is what a person does with what has happened to him or her. – Aldous Huxley

[Time Enough For Love]

The World could use a bit more of these four concepts

[BHSC]

Some great lessons in this story, indeed.
Thank you for sharing!
Take care

[humble warrior]

"Parting words are very important."... this has shown to be true where I work... during the pandemic, 4 former employees have re-joined the team with open arms

[SJ]

Thank you for a beautiful story that illustrates a key principle, that is never taught is schools , yet so important fir a great leader and good human being.

[Sam]

Great story of someone whom the "school system" expected to be an under achiever, but the real world gave him rewards for what he was able to do for his businesses. We all have some sort of genie-in-us. Key is for us to find and harness it for good.

[Maryland]

Very nice take home message in Fred story.
I will call the story Fred. Without the adjective. 🙂

[Carol]

Deep! Thanks for sharing!!