Waste

A municipal councillor and her team were inspecting the underground drains near the Panjim market. They opened up the lid of a manhole, surrounded the area with safety markers and went to the next manhole in that line. In less than five minutes when they returned, they found the open chamber filled with all sorts of trash. Somebody must have started it and the rest followed.

The next incident happened during an outbound training program conducted on a beach. Despite our pleas to dump the garbage in the bins, the beach was littered with water bottles and paper napkins. My team was cleaning up the waste, when their CEO joined us. Immediately, all senior managers joined and eventually everyone tagged along. The CEO started and the rest followed.

Two different occasions... One common lesson... We have it in our genes to ape the influencer. If many influencers unite to involve in positive proactive initiatives, the impact will be wider and deeper on the predicament we find ourselves in. We have to embrace the powerful possibilities of a united impact on the stakeholders of the situation.

In trekking, we learnt the rule of not just carrying our own garbage to the bin, but also the rubbish we found on the way. The newcomers would tend to say ‘that’s not my waste.’ One of the seniors would calmly pick up the piece of rubbish and confide, ‘but it is our path’. The circle of influence is widened when the preachers practise what they preach.

Hence we need to ask ourselves whether we are aligned to the expected behaviour we wish of others. We need to rededicate ourselves to not only doing the right things but to joining the positive projects that others initiate to further common good. There are many who want to the right stuff. If we all unite, the impact will never go to waste!

It won’t go to waste when right things happen together...
‘unite to impact’ the influencers to make it even better!

                              

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

BAI’S KISMOOR

My sister’s mother-in-law, who we called ‘Bai’, passed away ten days ago. Amidst many lingering memories of her extroverted nature were her culinary skills. But what remains strong in my musing is the excellent ‘kismoor’ that Bai served. Kismoor is a Konkani delicacy which is a mixture of ingredients like onions, chillies, coconut oil, chopped coconut and other garnishing with dried and fried mackerels or prawns or shrimps or even pappads.

While the mixture of Kismoor is always very tasty, the overall flavour is diminished if the onions and mackerels (or shrimps or prawns) are not crisp. Bai’s Kismoor was coveted as it was not ever premixed. Only when the person started to have the meal, Bai would open her many covered containers, each having the ingredients separately prepared. The mixture was served immediately with its aroma and taste intact.

So often, so many of us are in the method of the premix that takes away the freshness of each ingredient that makes the mix. It is important for them to unite to impact by coming together at the right time, appropriate context and in justifiable portions arising from the needs and wants of the situation.

Let’s look at an analogy. If you want to give a good speech, it is best to go prepared with a bunch of crisp quotations, a set of properly edited anecdotes or wit; well focussed main points, etc. Impact orators will mix the ready ingredients only a few minutes before making a judgement based on the audience, time, etc. Orators who come with premix speeches end up being longwinded and often oblivious of the impact on the audience.

It is said so well that well begun is half done. Well begun is to be well prepared with all sub-tasks and necessary arrangements. However, even if well begun, premixing before time can result in the undoing of the impact. Whether it is putting together kismoor, a speech or many a plan, the tolerance, to wait for the right time to mix, is crucial to the impact of the union of various elements.

Be it Kismoor, speech or plan that combines elements...
ensure that they ‘unite to impact’ at the right moment!

                              

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.

PRAVIN SABNIS conducts UNLEARNING UNLIMITED workshops for corporate & other teams. Since 2004, he has been writing MONDAY MUSE. He can be contacted on unlearning.unlimited@gmail.com and 91-9422640141 or 91-8698672080

Carpe Diem

In wake of the tragic news of the demise of actor Robin Williams, a movie that comes to mind is 1989's ‘Dead Poets Society’. Williams plays maverick English teacher John Keating who gets his class of male students to step close to a photograph of achievers from a previous generation... and whispers in the background:

‘You've walked past them many times. I don't think you've really looked at them. They're not that different from you, are they? Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you.

Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen. Do you hear it? Carpe. Hear it? Carpe. Carpe Diem. Seize the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary.’

‘Carpe diem’ is a Latin maxim from a poem in Odes by Horace. The phrase ‘carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero’ is translated as ‘Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow (the future)’. The verse says that the upcoming is unforeseen and that one should not leave future happenings to chance, but rather one should do all one can today to make one's future better.

The phrase is used by some to justify reckless behaviour. However the gist of ‘carpe diem’ as used by Horace is not to ignore the future, but rather to skip procrastination and do things on time. In the film, Keating urges his students to follow their heart and break free from indecision. He inspires them to unite passion with timely actions related to a set of purposeful goals. This Muse is dedicated to that inspirational union of Horace, Keating and Williams.

Carpe Diem... do not get caught in procrastination...
 ‘unite to impact’ passion, purpose and timely actions!

                              

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.