LeadershipEdge Coaching

The year 1985 and the city Ahmedabad. Had reached here from Varanasi where I was stationed to this city for the first time. And the first feel of Ahmedabad station gave a positive vibe. Nice and clean. Being a product specialist, the opportunity was to facilitate a training program for our organization. However this trip also had a surprise in store. Life lesson from a commoner.

Also Read: Lessons from the movie ‘Back to the future’

As I came out of the station, boarded the vehicle and moved towards our destination what also impressed me was the smooth well maintained roads as the auto rickshaw reached our hotel. The property was beautiful with a lovely lawn just outside the room and it turned out to be my go to spot for my tea/coffee for the next four days.

It was a lovely winter Sunday morning and the strong black coffee out on the green carpeted lawns tasted special. With the sun shining brightly. The day was planned for complete relaxation and walking around a bit in the evening to explore. And next go through the presentation once that was to be used for the next three days. Three days of product, marketing and distribution training for the new recruits followed by the launch of our basket of products in the state of Gujarat.

Enjoyable evenings

On the second evening after our program, I ventured out for a stroll of the neighborhood and the first thing that I normally do even today is to look out for a chai (tea) shop when in a new place. I found one very close by and settled down on one of the benches overlooking the Ellis bridge connecting old and new Ahmedabad over River Sabarmati.

The sun was starting to set as I noticed a middle aged lady pulling a cart approaching us. I guessed it was her husband who was pushing from behind, a much easier task I thought.

The man looked very tired and so I asked him after they had settled down. Tiring day? All work done? Yes a usual hard day. Will go home and rest.

Then I asked the lady. Time to go home and relax? Her bright eyes lit up hearing me followed by a happy smile. No bhaiya (brother), now I would go home, the kids would have come back from school and I would quickly make some snacks for them, give him a foot massage while looking at her man, cook dinner, feed the kids and him, have my dinner and then feel satisfied and relax for some time. Kam me hi to kushi hai bhaiya’. Happiness is in my work bhaiya.

Walking back after my two rounds of adrak chai (ginger tea) and butter bun, it felt good taking back some food for thought. The bigger our goals the more is our happiness when we end up achieving them, be it short term or long term achievable goals. Be happy but never satisfied with less is probably the way to go.

Life lessons, not taught in Business Schools.

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