Point to Ponder: it’s people who make things happen, not machines (or software)
Story Line: In 1985 when my parents were visiting us in Arizona I told my Father - All during my childhood years, I saw you either talking on the phone, or having tea and chatting (BSing) with people; and even at times when you took me to some business meetings, you were talking about families and world affairs before talking business items. I asked “ How did you become so successful?”
He raised his finger and said “ Power of this: to connect with people ( dial phones in those days and letters); the people from school days, once I met during travel, business meetings, workplaces”
That habit had helped him in keeping up with current affairs, connecting people who needed information or help, and most importantly develop goodwill.
Without going into so many examples he shared; three key things he told me were:
- The most important business relations are personal ones. ( I remembered first time he had said this to me was in 1965)
- It’s people who make things happen not machines. ( add software to that for current times)
- Relationships of mind are temporary while relationships of heart can be forever.
When I look back on past 70 years, What I learnt from him has been instrumental in beautiful career and life that I have enjoyed.
Reflection: It’s been said that “ Don’t mix business and personal life” -and in many areas it’s a sound advice. However establishing personal rapport with every member of my team and colleagues was very important to me. I followed my father’s formula.
For most of us in emerging and fast growing industries, time we spent at work and work related items is much higher than the time we spent at home. For us, the teams at workplaces became another Family. We produced incredible results ( as acknowledged by our real customers) while having Fun and maintaining professional ethics.
Since retiring in 2015, my wife and I have been traveling to different places in the world. After spending 4.5 months in Singapore, Philippines and India with our Stanford era college mates, Childhood friends, Family and former work associates-we arrived in Penang, Malaysia on June 8th.
Warm receptions and care by past work associates show that the friendships and bond developed during my two employments at Intel ( 1984-1986) - ( 1997-2015) are strong long after I left the company.
Recently, one stranger ( no longer) we met asked about the important learnings from my 70 years. I promised to write this FR with the most important one.
My one more addition along the line of three key things my father had said:
Being able to work with people ( of different backgrounds, believes..) has been the most important ingredient for my success.
Below are some of the highlights of first 22 days in Penang with more meetings to follow in July.
Work Colleagues (1984-86, 1997-2015) and then Friends. Have known their children (in photos) since they were born or when they were few years young. Some of them are parents themselves, some in college and some are still adorable little ones.
Total Surprise 70th Birthday Celebration. The Team members from Penang of our superb WW MQ&R team that produced incredible results as acknowledged by the real customers. ( 1997-2005)
If this is not Love then what is it?