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
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.
