“Narayan Rane
has done it again” I told Lulu, my parrot, and said, “He is unhappy, very
unhappy, but he will continue in Congress party; he is not quitting.”
“Sounds
like you corporate managers.” Lulu responded as he fluttered his wings and
picked up a chilly.
“What do
you mean, Lulu?”
“Rane who
was Chief Minister at one time, rose to that level from humble beginnings as a
chicken shop owner. That’s quite an achievement. Now his net Worth is measured
in crores, or hundreds of crores. He is deeply unhappy in his job as a
minister. He is repeatedly saying so.”
“So? Where is link with corporate managers in this story?”
“Look at
the number of managers in the corporate world who draw a fat pay. They have
risen to a very high level in the ladder of hierarchy and success. They have
everything like Amitabh Bachchan in Deewar – but they do not have happiness.”
“Oh! Hmm…
Happiness is a state of mind, Lulu.”
“That is
half of the story, my friend. But what if you find that you are a modern day
slave? You HR folks call it ‘golden handcuffs!’ You are unhappy but you find it
impossible to leave the organization you are working for.”
“There are
so many factors….. you can’t give up a job in a huff, there is always family
responsibility is one, children’s education…..”
“All humbug!”
Lulu cut me short, “These managers at the top have talent as well as money. It
is all in mind.”
“Ha ha!”
“I know a
maid servant who once got in an argument with her employer. She said, “Apna
nahi jamata hai to mai chod deti hun ye kaam. Dusra dhoond loongi.” [We can’t
get along so I quit. I will find work at some other house.] Isn’t it shocking
that well qualified and talented people with fat bank balance and premier
management institute qualification can’t say this? What’s the use of their
education? A maid can throw away a job which she does not like, but not these
managers.”
“Hmm… You
are raising an interesting point. Let me think….. I think the real issue is the
feeling of insecurity. There is an image to protect; there are financial
commitments to keep. All want to be seen as successful. And the measure of success
is money – so people think. We have to answer to ourselves is what is meant by
success? Is it fat bank balance? Does success mean owning a Merc or BMW? What
is it?”
“Perhaps
you are right. Insecurity stalls people. Ability to lead a different life
reduces with age. But I also feel that people do not think about two basic
questions that they face and that is why they get in a quandary.”
“What
questions?”
“I think
everybody must think what success means to him. He needs to make up his mind.
When you define it in terms of hierarchy, you are sure to be unhappy. Remember
your promotion is in the hands of somebody else. Rane’s appointment as Chief
Minister is also not in his hands, but somebody else decides it.”
“Hmm….”
“I feel
that success is, in ultimate analysis, leaving behind a legacy.” Lulu continued,
“ This is why Rane could have been successful by my standard if he were to
leave a legacy of good values and practices which would help his children or
followers lead their life meaningfully.”
“That’s a
tall order! His children are gun-toting and violence prone!!”
“Forget
Rane and his sons. Please try and understand the point I am making – ‘What is
success’ is a question to which we must find an answer – our own answer.
And we must decide what cost we are willing to pay. As for me, paying it with
self-respect is an absolute ‘no.’”
“I agree. What’s
the other question you were referring to?”
“The other
question is ‘How much is enough?’ No amount of money – immeasurable in Rane’s
case and plenty in case of many corporate honchos – is thought adequate. And
what is the use of the high level position or tons of money, if you feel
humiliated working there, and have to compromise self-respect?”
“So what
should people do?”
“I think
one should follow his passion. And whatever he does, he should do with his
heart and soul in it. He will then see deep appreciation in the eyes of others –
that is the certificate of success. You may or may not get money, but you are
sure to experience lasting happiness. That is priceless.”
“I see your point. Somebody has said
‘Don't wait around for other people to be happy
for you. Any happiness you get you've got to make yourself.’ I wish Narayan
Rane had understood this….”
“Well, Sonia Gandhi has taught him that lesson now…..” Lulu, my parrot always has the last laugh!
Vivek S Patwardhan