Olympics and India

 

Growing up and even now I wonder why my country India does not do well in securing many more medals in the Olympics. Today the Paris 2024 is concluding and the nation of more than 1.4 billion is again left with a handful of medals.

Everyone in India you talk to or ask will give their reasons, share their opinions and bicker about this. I am not trying to write about what went wrong or is not working for Team India. I was fortunate to have been able to watch several exciting and interesting games (some late in the night IST) over the last 3 weeks when I got time and wanted to share my observations of what some of these athletes or their communities were doing differently.

Incidentally, many of these are also applicable to any professional discipline or work one takes as a career.

1. Passion and personal commitment

Being at the 5 rings event is not a dream for many, winning a medal is ingrained in their minds and body (so many had tattooed it).

Early in their childhood, these athletes have committed themselves to the sports they love more than anything else. Many may have been honing their skill even before they could form sentences and write essays.

For them playing a sport was not an alternative to keeping themselves fit or a sidekick, but the only thing they wanted to commit to. Many US and Chinese athletes train and work on their skills at the tender age of 4 or 5 years.

2. Tribe and community commitment

As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. In many countries, communities have been able to create a pool of talented individuals who not only compete with each other to push their limits but also encourage each other in these mentally tough sporting events.

A good example is the dominance of long-distance runners that some of the African nations have produced over the years. They compete together and become a support system for each other during these big events.

3. National commitment to sports

When a nation and its citizens give equal support to various sports and widen their love for each discipline, it motivates individuals to take up the sports of their interest and ability to a professional level.  Many of the big sporting nations have committed their resources and time to identify, nurture, and support talent. Sports is part of nation-building and they ensure these individuals are no less than the ones who work in the corporate world.

Image a nation that only looks at cricket to be the only viable sporting option, how can athletes see their future or develop an interest in aquatics or the long jump?

Every sport requires different abilities and skills. When these athletes see the support and commitment from their families, communities and the nation, their commitment only gets better.

These were my initial thoughts; I am sure you have many more. I am looking forward to learning from you all.

 

 “Drawing parallels” between an organization and a train – confused? Read more

 

I have been always fond of train journeys since my childhood. I still have those vivid memories and visuals ingrained of the rolling countryside, green paddy fields during monsoons and flowing rivers as you cross over long bridges. With time a lot of this has changed. Now there are sights of bustling cities, towns, and houses along the tracks across the country.

Recently, I made a trip to Mumbai from Pune and back on two different trains. During this trip, I observed many nuances of the people around me…. noticed how passengers around me reacted and reflected on them. I felt there were so many parallels I could draw between an organization and a train.

Here are some

Aspect	For the train	For an organization
Engine and its driver	This duo is what makes the train run and ensures a smooth journey. This is the heart and brain of the train -        If the driver is experienced, he/she knows how to make the machine work and maintain a smooth ride throughout. -        The train speed can vary based on track conditions and terrain; however, the driver knows how to handle real-time situations. -        If the engine is good and responsive, it makes the driver's job a bit easier and ensures the train runs as planned.	A well-defined purpose & vision along with the core leadership team (which is the driver here) sets the pace and drives an organization -        When the purpose and vision are clear across the levels of an organization, the journey becomes easier -        When the leadership is experienced and understands the needs of the organization and tailoring it based on the need of the hour, they manage it impeccably
Brakes	This is the most essential element of a train. As much as we love the speed of a fast train, it is ever more crucial to know how well it brakes when needed. The art of applying the brakes depends on the driver as to how well he/she anticipates and decides to apply the same. It is important to slow down when the track or terrain demands.	Every organization wants to grow as soon as possible. After all growth in terms of revenue, market share etc. is key. However, it is very important to take a pause at times and see if the pace and direction at which it is trying to move is apt or does it needs some course correction. Internal processes, checks and balances and internal feedback loop should be considered as the brakes
Coaches	In a long-distance train, you will often see a variety of coaches catering to different customer segments and managing some key services like catering, luggage holding etc. No matter where you sit, the train needs to take all of them together and reach their destination. All the classes of coaches need to keep up with the engine, or else we all know what could happen.	Like coaches in a train, the organization has several business lines, and departments catering to internal and external customers. Unless they are well-oiled and acknowledge the need to work in tandem and for each other (not against each other) there will be friction and possibly no alignment with the overall vision and purpose
Track and signal system	When a train runs at high speeds on those two parallel rails, a lot of credit goes to the tracks, their maintenance and the signalling system that ensures we are on a safe path. We may not see all those unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to make this happen. A wrong signal, a weak track, a missing fishplate etc. can cause havoc.	Strong procedures, internal guardrails, periodic audits, and many such things provide indications to an organization as to where it is heading and what is potentially coming. When all goes well, we seldom acknowledge their importance, but when it does not…
Passengers	Every passenger irrespective of the coach/class where he/she is seated has some expectation from the journey. Some want good food, some may want to rest, others may want to reach the destination sooner or at least on time, and some may want to have a party. Certainly, all would like to have a clean and safe journey. It is practically impossible that everyone will be happy at the end and all hopes are met. If you are lucky enough to get good co-passenger(s) your journey seems like a breeze, but it could feel endless if something goes wrong.	Employees of an organization work for different groups and departments. Each one of them has some expectations from the workplace and the organization. What motivates some may not be good for others. It is almost impossible to say that all policies will be loved by everyone. However, what matters is that everyone professionally conducts themselves and works towards the common organization objective. The journey tends to get sweeter when the team works smarter and finds time to kindle with like-minded ones.

 

Does this resonate with you? Have you experienced interesting parallels during your journeys? Share your thoughts and would love to learn from you.

Reminiscences of my childhood - PICNIC

 
Autumn Equinox for us as kids in high school, was a signal that the Autumn festivities would start soon. If you happened to have grown up in the eastern part of India, the major festival of Durga Puja preparations would have started or been getting started by then. In the hope that the soggy days would soon be replaced with sunny and cooler days, we would get started to plan for the annual picnic (we called it Bhanbhoj – meaning feast in the forest).

The Picnic for us teenagers was not only a day when we were not looking at our books but also a day when we could go out of home with our friends to the nearby woods for the whole day and act as responsible adults. Did I just say, adults? Yes! We had to watch out for each other and ensure that everyone was safe when the parents were not around, thereby taking their place as ‘adults’.

You may wonder (for those who may not have experienced) what might be involved or what is the planning all about for us.

1.   It started with a small core group of classmates/friends who typically met after school hours or during recess to pick a couple of tentative dates (a Sunday usually) and a couple of locations. The key challenge was that it could not be too far from our homes, yet far enough that it was not behind someone’s backyard. There was usually a lot of back and forth and the ideas would keep changing.

2.    Socializing the idea and trying to convince many other “like-minded” friends was no easy task. Many times, you needed the “right mix” of friends to ensure that everyone was comfortable and that it was a fun event.

3.    The daunting task was always to convince our respective parents about the picnic, when, where and who related questions had to have convincing answers.

4.    In those days, we collected a fixed amount from everyone based on our planned menu, expenses we may incur, what we had to buy and what we may be able to manage. You read it right, we used to buy ingredients and then cook our lunch at the venue. It wasn’t fancy and elaborate, but the pure fun of collaborating and cooking with friends was a different experience.

5.    There were always a few who knew how to cook, while most of the others would help prep, collect firewood, clean, chop etc.

6.    What made it special at times, was when someone got treats for all which were sent by their parents.

7.    Right from choosing the venue, shopping for the menu, preparing the makeshift stove, clearing the place, to getting all essentials, the tasks were distributed amongst us, based on what each one could do well.

8.    Oh, the best part is we didn’t have cellphones to connect with each other or track one another down in case someone was stuck. Albeit people were seldom late. Everyone knew that time was of the essence, and everyone wanted to make use of the day to the best.

At the end of the day, we would all be exhausted, but the spirits would be high, and everyone would wish that the next picnic could happen ASAP. We didn’t have a lot of means nor did we come from very affluent families to spend a lot, but we always wanted to do the best with what we had. I still remember that just to save a few rupees (in those days), some of us would cycle a few kilometers to get the best and cheapest ingredients.
 
When I look back to those golden memories, they taught me a few things, which I think are still applicable.
·       A ton of material resources does not proportionally increase your happiness. We had so much fun with little and no one complained.
·       Play to the strengths of your team. There are several activities that need to be completed prior to the start of a picnic and many more during that day. The activities were always shared between all of us. The work was given based on what each one did best. For example, the core cooking was given to the ones who knew it well or did a great job the last time.
·       When planned well and in advance, you typically reduce the last-moment jitters. We always planned ahead and, in many cases, had a backup plan.

Do you remember anything from your childhood that still holds true, and you cherish those beautiful moments?

What did I learn from Tokyo 2020?

Indians went into a festive fever and were exhilarated, when we won our first ever gold medal in Athletics in Tokyo 2020. Neeraj Chopra became a household name overnight and everyone wanted to be part of his success story.

Certainly, a proud moment for a country of more than 1.3 billion individuals. We all know that such kind of success comes with tons of hard work, dedication and discipline. I watched some exciting moments during the 2020 games and looked beyond the joy and entertainment.

What did I learn?

• It is absolutely critical to keep going and be focused on how one can improve oneself and be better tomorrow than yesterday
• Develop oneself to be calm under pressure situations and be able to deliver one's best
• Keep oneself motivated during the journey, when not many know or believe that one can do it. Let's ask ourselves, how many of us knew Neeraj Chopra prior to August 2021?
• Be able to hold and handle one's success - being calm and humble

The Indian men's hockey team also created history. They were on the medal podium with a Bronze after 40 years. From a complete dominance in this event until 1964 and then in 1980, we haven't been able to even make it to the final 4 since the last four decades

What did I learn?

• Nothing is constant or permanent
• Keep evolving and never lose sight of what is coming and what may change
• One may have a bad patch or rough time, but one must keep challenging his or herself and introspect
• Team work is key. Everyone needs to be committed and share the same vision. This is the success mantra for any team

Question to ask ourselves - Are we willing to invest in upskilling ourselves, our teams, our groups and be patient in handling those not so good times?

Finally, the Indian women's hockey team. They showed so much promise and determination to get on the podium. They stood 4th in 1980, Moscow Olympics and now they are back in Tokyo.

What did I learn?

• One may put their best at times, but the result may become slightly unfavorable
• One should accept ones failure with dignity (if one has tried his/her best) and learn what one wants to do different the next time
• Life is generally sinusoidal in nature with peaks and troughs, one should keep riding along 

I enjoyed the games thoroughly and was at times awestruck with what human limits can be.

Some things to ponder for all of us:

1. Are we willing to help and support our next generation choose a career they love, are passionate about and have skill to go miles ahead?
2. Are we willing to provide the tools and trainings needed to make our sportsmen and sportswomen stronger and more capable?

There is a lot to learn from an athlete. Many of there traits when imbibed can change the way we think and act in our professional lives for good.

Can't wait to see our continued success in 2024 at Paris.

All pictures used - courtesy from https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/

Be the humble "Potato" - A perspective

What is this title all about? who thinks of potatoes? You are absolutely right. Even for a minute I was thinking, what am I trying to write about and why have potatoes come to my mind.

Imagine some exotic fruits or vegetable or may be food items - may be ham, caviar, avocado, berries, etc. Don't think potatoes fit into this list of top choices, for majority of the people?

However, don't we all (may be most) love eating fries, chips, tots made out of the humble potato? Some fact - "More than a billion people worldwide eat potato, and global total crop production exceeds 374 million metric tons. There are more than 4,500 varieties of native potatoes, mostly found in the Andes." source - More about potatoes

This tuberous vegetable is packed with Vitamin C, Potassium and is also cholesterol free. Many more benefits can be found here - Health benefits. It is among the cheapest source of carbs, protein and feeds billions.

Ok enough of potato production facts, dietary value etc. I want to now highlight on the following aspect of potatoes that attracted me to link them to us in someway

• Picks up the flavor of seasonings used in the dish
• Easily transformable - mash to fries to tots to curry etc.
• Provides a body to any dish
• Fills up many hungry mouth and hearts for so little

How does this make me a potato or what is the connection? Let me share my thoughts and views

Pick up the flavor - Change is the only constant and our surroundings, work place, society are no exceptions. As business changes, expectations change, people come and leave an organization. The recipe or constitution of the dish changes. It is key for us individual like potato to be able to adapt absorb some of the flavors and be part of the change.

Is this always easy to embrace the new change? may be not. Like every dish cannot have a potato, in the real world some changes for us we will become acceptable others not.

Ease of being able to transform - As individuals, we may be tasked with work that we haven't done before, is out of our comfort zone etc. We have two choices, either adapt, transform and try it out or out right say no. The former helps you to broaden your experience, learn new lessons and hopefully be noticed by your leadership.

Transforming to move from your comfort zone can also be a challenge, but taking the first step is key. Potatoes in a pie and in French fries bring different levels of happiness when you eat them. 

Be the dependable body - Everyone loves to have individuals who can be reliable, have the ability to seamlessly deliver a given task to completion and can take ownership. Individuals who possess such qualities are the backbone of any successful organization and keep the engine moving.

Like the humble potato always provides that much needed body to any dish where it is diced or sliced into.

Fill someone's heart - It takes nothing to be empathetic, a little considerate and kind. Everyone works under different level of stress and challenges (internal and external). We all have deadlines to meet and expectations keep skyrocketing.

What may not hurt is to be humble, smile and help others in the process. It certainly makes others smile and feel better. The potato may not taste like caviar but for a hungry person it is no less.

Would love to know what you all think.