Tradition

 A scientist put five monkeys in a tall cage. A bunch of bananas hung at the top of a ladder. When a monkey went for the bananas, the man would sprays all five monkeys with freezing water. After some time, a second monkey went for the bananas. The man once again sprayed all with the cold water. The man then put the hose away.

 When a third monkey tries to go for the bananas, the other four attack him to prevent him as they want to avoid the consequences. The man replaced one of the monkeys with a new one who wasn’t part of the original experiment and was never sprayed with water.

 However when the new monkey touched the ladder to go for the bananas, the other four attacked him to keep him from doing so. When he tried again, they attacked him again. The new monkey learns not to go for the bananas because he’ll get attacked if he does.

 Another monkey is replaced. When he goes for the bananas, the other four attack him, including the one who was never sprayed with water. One by one, all original monkeys are replaced. Each time a newcomer goes for the bananas, the others attack, although they have never been sprayed with cold water for going for the bananas.

 That’s the way the tradition has built up in an organization. Traditions are a part of every organization, especially if the majority of the workforce has been around for some time. But, those traditions can be detrimental to progress within   workplace, especially when new employees are stopped from pursuing new ideas.

 By focusing on doing something the way it’s always been done because it’s tradition to do it that way, organizations are often rendered blind to new ways that they can get the banana (the prize they’re going after). We must question things that don’t always feel right, and avoid using the excuse of ‘we’ve always done it this way’.

Avoid the grip of irrational traditions

Try new thoughts and new actions!

- Pravin K Sabnis

#mondaymuse20thYear #pravinsabnis #since2004 #motivation

Agostinho

Being afflicted in both legs with polio, he was wheelchair bound. His uncle had to lift with his wheelchair onto the ground floor plinth of his primary school. At the end of school time, his uncle would come to lift him down. The young boy worried about getting heavier and his uncle getting older. So he gave up his wheel chair.

He began to practice walking on his hands. With determination, he was able to scale many steps in life. He won awards in drawing, handwriting, spelling, story writing and singing competitions at various levels. Music was his main passion.

After SSC, he secured Diploma in Garment Technology. He acquired proficiency in computer technology as well as playing the piano. He went to become a musical entrepreneur teaching music to many students as well as producing albums and musical performances.

Besides his many skills of artistry and technical competencies, he would easily climb trees, repair the tiled roof of his home and drive a van that he purchased and modified to have the clutch, accelerator and brake on the dash board at his hands reach. His life’s journey was one moving melody of motivation.

He joined me as a motivational speaker at corporate trainings. Once when asked whether ‘he felt bad that he could not stand on his legs’, his response was prompt, ‘Do you feel bad that you cannot fly like the bird does?’ He believed in counting his blessings rather than the shortcomings.

His positive attitude made him an effective teacher and a loving personality to family and friends. He took on all odds but succumbed to a road accident. Despite his early exit, Agostinho Fernandes’ lessons will live on to inspire the ones who met him.

Polio could not stop Agostinho from standing on his feet

Passion and determination led to many a stimulating feat!

- Pravin K Sabnis

#mondaymuse20thYear #pravinsabnis #since2004 #motivation

Safety Pin

In teambuilding programs, we give teams a set of air-filled balloons along with a set of safety pins. The team with the maximum number of balloons at the end of 5 minutes will be declared the winner.

When the game begins, some open the safety pins and start bursting balloons of the other teams. Within a minute even the resolute ones are out for revenge as their balloons have been attacked. In less than three minutes there are no balloons with any team.

The activity makes a clear point that it is human nature that we want to stand out and be the only winner. We all can be winners if we all decided to raise our balloons in the air after the game started.

The approach of ‘I win when you lose’ leads to lose-lose situation. In the bargain we turn a ‘safety’ pin into a dangerous thing. Walter Hunt who invented the safety pin, will never have imagined that his creation could have such destructive implications.

Today on International Safety Pin Day, let’s resolve to have positive intentions and aligned actions. Negative intentions and actions lead to a bloodied battleground and ensuing bad blood between persons. Even the best of tools can turn into weapons.

Surely the Safety Pin is a useful invention

Don’t turn it into a weapon of destruction! 

- Pravin K Sabnis

#mondaymuse20thYear #pravinsabnis #since2004 #motivation

 

Pluralism

 In ancient India, diverse views were in constant dialogue and debate with one another. The Jains were active participants in the debates, and among their central tenets was the position referred to as ‘anekantavada’.

 Translated literally, it means ‘no-one-perspective-ism’. It refers to the multiplicity and relativity of views. By this, Jains meant that in the arguments espoused by the various participants in a debate all held some validity… an acceptance of pluralism.

 The promise of pluralism is that it leads to ‘the common good’. Aristotle conceived ‘the common good’ to refer to anything that is of benefit to and shared by all or most. Buddhism refers to it as ‘Bahujan Hitay’ (in the interest of most).

 The philosophy of pluralism suggests that we really can and should ‘all just get along.’ Recognized as an essential element of democracy by philosophers of Ancient Greece, pluralism permits and encourages a diversity of political opinion and participation.

 It is pertinent to note that in today’s world, we find it difficult to get along with diversity of opinions and even suggestions in a discourse. We are hostile to thinking that differs with ours. Hence we see dislike and hatred on the rise.

 Pluralism holds that people of different beliefs, backgrounds and lifestyles can coexist in the same society and participate equally in the social and political process. For the ‘common good’ of all, we must choose the pluralism prism and ‘get along’ with all.

 All of us can surely ‘get along’

By singing the pluralism song! 

 - Pravin K Sabnis