Trim

‘It seems that perfection is reached not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away’ - Antoine de Saint Exupery

The French aviator-author, Saint-Exupéry was a literary perfectionist. His draft pages had most of his lines painstakingly crossed out, with one word left standing where there were a hundred words, one sentence substituting for a page. His quest for perfection was a laborious process of editing which reduced original drafts by as much as two-thirds.

So much thoughtful effort and design goes into refining things so they are as simple as possible. Effective transformations happen when inefficiencies are ironed out and the needless is trimmed. Mobile phones had an extending antenna, then a little nub, and now no visible antenna at all.

The lesson is to avoid worrying about making it better by adding more. Enhancement happens best by trimming away the unnecessary. Whether it is our regular communication, design plans or creative efforts, we must focus on trimming away the unnecessary inclusions.

Trim away what is excessive

Brevity makes it impressive!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Rhetoric

Rhetoric is valued technique in oratory. The word comes from the Greek term for orator and is used for the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. The three branches of rhetoric - deliberative, judicial, and epideictic – cover the most common ways we communicate.

Deliberative rhetoric seeks to persuade or dissuade a person to think or act in a certain way. It is about the future. We hear it in political speeches, in formal presentations or even in advertising where you persuade someone to buy or do something or dissuade them from other products or brands.

Judicial rhetoric seeks to accuse or defend someone. It is about the past. It is the kind of discourse that happens in a courtroom, in law making – where parties deliberate over whether actions were legal or ethical. It is really about justifying actions and can include personal justifications as well.

Epideictic rhetoric is used to praise (or blame) a person for their actions. It is about the present. It seeks to highlight and identify the qualities and characteristics of a person that make them great (or not great). We see it in obituaries, eulogies, testimonials and nomination speeches.

The purpose of rhetoric is a persuasive effect. However, it is often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content. This is because in the bid to be impressive, we tend to go overboard. So while we may stand our ground, it may be shaky ground. We must escape the trap of going off course.

Past, present or future… whatever be the way…

Rhetoric should persuade without going astray!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

shift focus

We notice a valuable quality in infants. A crying child can easily start smiling when their attention is distracted. They are able to shift focus from the negative to the positive. But adults cling to their positions of discomfort and tend to stay there for longer than required.

This shifting of focus is often a refreshing change. Cricket players are known to play football or swimming pool games or sing and dance or listen to music to relax the pressure of the upcoming game. Here the intent is to take the burden off by shifting focus.

However, it is pertinent to remember that it is about shifting focus not running away or ignoring it. The distraction is meant to drag you away from any negative emotions or worries or undue pressure build-up.

Shifting of focus to other activities or playfulness helps divert you from negativity and helps you emerge refreshed to take on new priorities or approach the old ones in a newer way.

But we can shift focus only if we have other things to focus on. We should inculcate the practice of involving in various activities and interests. Try out newer doings or learn to watch and enjoy others doing it. That is what infants do and hence they can shift focus easily.

Be player, audience or referee of diverse games

Shift focus to escape the load of the same game!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Doing what you love

“What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.” ― Bob Dylan

Indeed this is a quote that everyone seems to agree with. But opinions differ on what construes ‘wants’. They could be a sentiment of acquiring external possessions or they could be an internal passion to do specific things.

It is pertinent to note that our life is multi-dimensional. There are factors of self, family, society and work. But, passion is a personal thing. Happiness is in doing what you love and do be able to be in love with what you do.

Our career is a large part in our life that we commit to. If I am not happy with my career, that unhappiness seeps into other facets of my life. This goes for non-work life, too. Success is never a single triumphant occurrence. It is a journey of a series of moments (and choices) leading up to bigger moments.

We must reclaim relationships and activities that gave us joy but fell by the wayside as life moved on. We must be conscious of what we feed on… the type of people and activities we interact or involve with. But eventually it is we who choose to do what we love or be the person preventing it.

Don’t be the person who gets in the way

Of doing what you love to do every day!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Dignity

Recently in Goa, two bodies were sent back from cremation grounds as they were Covid deaths. Eventually, the cremation was performed at a third place. Some citizens of that town voiced their protest. But Ponda Municipal Council showed better sense in inviting an expert to understand the facts.

Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, from the forensic department, explained that the last rites done by following settled protocol, carry no risk of contagion. For the next death, there was no opposition. Lawmaker Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco attended the burial to send a strong message to accord dignity to the dead.  

Sadly, it is not a situation peculiar to the present pandemic. There are many who had denied dignity in life as well as death!

Ironically, death does not kill the processes of prejudice. We have no respect for the living. We have no compassion for the dead. The mockery of human rights continues. We attack their dignity with all the weapons at our command. Our weapons are religion, caste and (presently) misinformation.

The ‘right to die with dignity’ is compromised by our bigotry and intolerance. Rightful demand for non-discriminatory cemeteries and burial grounds are ignored. It is based on the division between us and them. But pandemics are great levellers. We cannot ignore that it could be us next!

We must realise that the battle is not between human beings or even between us and the pandemic. The conflict is between humanity and inhumanity… the tussle is between compassion and insensitivity… We must choose the honourable side of dignity for all human beings.

Don’t distance yourself from humanity

Give everyone their deserved dignity!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

No Rush

‘No Rush’ is more or less the opposite of ASAP (as soon as possible). The person using it is saying that there's no hurry. It means I do not need it right away, so don't hurry if you have another priority that is urgent.

It can be used in various ways. Someone who asks for something that isn't urgent can say 'no rush.’ Or, if you're waiting for someone who's busy, you can say ‘no rush’ to indicate that you're in no hurry and are willing to wait.

An important lesson we all learnt in the slowdown due to the pandemic is that we don’t really need to rush. Neither do others need to rush to fulfil our declared orders. Things can wait and it is possible to be more patient.

Of course, it does not mean putting off things or being careless about time. All that is important is not urgent and all that is urgent does need to be rushed into. Rush often results in undue pressure that can lead to mistakes.  

The idea is to be in control without the pressure of speed. It is wonderful to say as well as hear, ‘No rush, just take your time and do it well.’ Speed is secondary to doing something well… or maybe doing something else!

Unless truly urgent, learn to say ‘no rush’

The pressure of speed is oft undue fuss!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Hear Out

In 2004, I was Zone President of Zone XI of JCI India. One day, I received a call after 11.30pm from a Jaycee who had major issues with his local chapter President. He went on and on about one incident after the other.  

I realised that he expected me to intervene in what appeared to a personal tussle. However, I had no jurisdiction to involve in his local organisation. I knew he would be extremely upset when I would confess that I could do nothing. He would probably end up quitting the organisation.

When he finished speaking, instead of telling him of my inability, I asked him, ‘what do you expect me to do?’ He immediately replied, ‘Nothing! As the head of our Zone, I wanted you to know about what’s going on!’

He wanted nothing from me other than hearing him out! Nothing more… Nothing less! Maybe nobody else had heard him out. Since I listened fully to what he wanted to tell, his need was satiated. No further action was required from my side.

‘Hear me out’ means ‘listen to everything I have to say before you say anything.’ It means that the other person is asking to wait until the person has finished the explanation, argument or story before I respond or react.

Most of the time, we do not hear out. We interject to sort out the issue. In case of feedback, we try to defend or justify. We hurry to close the matter as per our perception. We try to solve what may not require a solution. However when we ‘hear out’ we are in the best position! Nothing else may be needed.

When you see an agitated spout

Be persevering to hear them out!

~ Pravin K Sabnis