The human mind never ceases to amaze me. The idiosyncrasies and foibles of a few grams of grey and white matter have the latent ability to transform or destroy lives, to rewrite destiny.
Wednesday, 26th November 2008, was a day when this “latent ability” transformed itself into a heinous, gruesome and tragic ordeal for India. The terror attacks on Mumbai are not restricted by geography. These attacks are a culmination of what this great nation and its people have been nurturing over the years – a sense of lackadaisical complacency. The patented “chalta hain” attitude - that we Indians take great pride in – is the edifice of the issue.
The relentless pictures from Mumbai, at the Taj or the Trident display only a fragment of the problem. As citizens, we have acclimated ourselves to the belief that terrorism exists and that it cannot be abolished. As human beings, we’ve consoled ourselves with the illusion that ‘terror attacks strike others’. Some of us even believe that it could be one of us next. What really is fascinating, is that even though today as a country we’ve come to terms with terrorism and its’ inevitable existence, fluctuations at Dalaal Street give us more nightmares then a 26/11 ordeal.
Mumbai is my home. It’s a city where I’ve grown up. It’s a city that taught me to be who I am. Yet, I am appalled by what we celebrate as the spirit of Mumbai. There is no ‘spirit of Mumbai’. We are not fast healers. We’re just inert. We – the people of this metropolis – have pseudo-conditioned our selves to behave like a Helium / Neon / Argon / Krypton. We are content with our supposedly complete “octets” and hence no matter what element we’re exposed to, we don’t react! What we call the ‘fiber of the city’ is in effect, the harsh reality that I would like to highlight.
The 26th of November, A WEDNESDAY, is not a bollywood flick. A lot of us have transformed it into one. We’ve converted this ‘national tragedy’ in the words of Narendra Modi into a 2-day TV action-fest for which you don’t need a ticket. It’s become a sitcom that you channel-swap with your favorite TV show! For the hundreds of people who’ve actually lived through this ordeal life would never be the same. They’ve borne witness to the incredulous aberrations of the human mind.
The terrorists holed up inside these building were far outnumbered by the armed forces. Yet, the dexterity and tenacity and the uncouth finesse with which the terror strike was performed goes only to demonstrate the mammoth proportions that terrorism has assumed in the last few years. My belief is that terrorism and our inane inertness go hand in hand. If only the amount of unrest and speculation and thereafter reinforcement action that follows a stock market tumble is diverted to averting terrorism, there is no way that such attacks would ever be possible.
The images of “Warfield Mumbai” flashing on the television screens do not depict an attack on a city. They depict war against a nation and its people. A historical landmark, the Taj on flames should serve as a metaphor symbolizing the attack on humanity.
There is no government. There are no leaders. There is however a continuing farce. Our current political scenario is no better than a flag waving façade of the administrative wing.
Before this tragic calamity transforms into another political slugfest, it’s time for us the people of this country to make our voice heard and demand the kind of bold political initiatives that require real political valor.
Yesterday, the parents of Abhilash Krishnan – a young F&B executive in his 20s’ who died at the Taj attack – were quoted saying this, “We’ve heard enough of the television news to sense that the Indian government is heading in the direction of converting this tragedy into political propaganda with the prospect of similar terror attack occurring again and many more innocent lives are at stake. This is certainly not the way to go- not in our sons’ name at least.”
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Love, thou art indeed magical…
Six months ago, few would have dreamt even in their wildest dreams that the infallible Ritwik, who – for the uninformed – is me, would be so unabashedly, blissfully happy! Actually happy isn’t the word, euphoric is more like it. Or should I say, these have been the days, those moments of human interaction that last you a lifetime.
So, what has really happened in the last six months that has brought about this incredible metamorphosis?
Well, even for the “vocabularily-gifted” like me, words – in these moments – are hard to find. Having been a staunch believer, over the years, that words can convey the deepest of human emotions, today I find myself challenging this long-standing belief.
An identity is a highly underrated notion. Your identity – I believe is who you are. And this description transcends dictionary boundaries. What I mean by this, is that who you believe you are, really turns out to be deciding factor in shaping the ‘real you’. If I think I’m fat, well then that’s it. That’s who I am! I will never look at clothing stores, not because I don’t want to, but because I believe I will never find anything my size, let alone facing the embarrassment of the store person tell you, “Sir, we do not have an XXXXXL”. You will never want to go to a beach because the fear of seeing yourself without a shirt is scary. You will never want to look into the mirror, because it would mean standing a kilometer away from the mirror for all of YOU to fit in it. You will never want to dance because dancing may mean you cramping your “Super sized pectoral muscles”. And in sometime, as Newton’s’ First Law of Motion defines, the inertia in your life will make you want to stop living!
Today my identity stands revamped, refurbished. And what this does for me, is, not only do I now have a new “me”, I also have a “She” – Niyati. Not in my wildest dreams could I’ve imagined that anyone could take over my life in such a short span of time and renovate it, while I am ‘living the life’.
This blog is my way of letting go of the emotional “pressure cooker”. And for the first time, in a long time, letting go of the whistle is to let out gushing pleasure, sheer uninhibited pleasure.
My girlfriend is someone who I would’ve never thought would be my ‘girlfriend’. Why? Because, I never felt that someone like her would settle for someone like me. Yes, I’m me and I’m the best blah, blah, blah… but it’s been a while that I had someone literally sweep me off my feet. I fail to fathom how in 15weeks I feel so unbelievably fulfilled.
So well, for the one’s who’ve attended my seminars and are aware of the “Six Fundamental Human Needs” – here’s a scorecard!
(By the time you finish reading the scorecard and the synopsis, even the slightly “logically-challenged” section of my readers would be able to comprehend my fanatic love for this woman! Read on…
Pre-Niyati :
Certainty : 2
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 9
Love & Connection ; 2
Growth : 7
Contribution : 4
Post-Niyati :
Certainty : 7
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 10
Love & Connection ; 9
Growth : 9
Contribution : 9
What’s caused the difference?
Certainty :
Before I knew Niyu, I had no idea what I wanted out of my life. Inspired by Baz Luhrmans’ now immortal Wear Sunscreen where he says - ”Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what to do with your life...the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.” - I just went about my business everyday, just because the sun rose.
Now, everyday has a new meaning. There are times when you just wade through a day waiting for evening when it’d be day (EST) to talk to Niyu !!! There is so much of assurance in the fact that no matter what, no matter whom, I’m working towards being with her. This is better than ANY goal setting session I have ever conducted / been part of / held at IPCA!!! ;-)
Uncertainty :
This aspect remains unchanged as genetically I’m a very ‘happening’ person! Some or the ‘thing’ is always ‘happening’ to me – then AND now !
Significance :
Yes I felt incredibly significant during my training sessions / seminars previously however the fact that this significance is just momentary was always at the back of my mind.
Now, I have perennial significance in someone’s life. NOONE, not my most ardent followers, have ever made me feel as important as my girl does. She calls me ritWikipedia… ;-) Now that’s some weight to carry around !
Love & Connection :
This ‘need’ was never really on my priority list before. Now, on hindsight, I feel perhaps I knew I’d never get it hence I’d unchecked it off my ‘priority list’.
Today, I know, no matter how close or how far, there is someone who loves me as much as I love her, at times I do admit (just to myself) more than I love her. She has reaffirmed my belief in relationships. Niyati, undoubtedly is the best part of my day.
Growth :
This is a need I incredibly value. Before I met Niyati my growth (even though abundant) was restricted to financial growth and my career.
Today, after six months with Niyati, I can say I’ve evolved as a person, as a partner, as a son and as a friend in more ways than I could have ever imagined.
Contribution :
My contribution to other peoples’ lives has always been ‘profound’ for lack of a better word. Be it my “sexual counseling” in my college days or being the shoulder to cry on later on in life, or during my seminars, I’ve always been a “giver”.
With Niyati, I can see my contribution not just immensely valued but very well executed. The other day I got an email from her talking about how my contribution – direct or indirect – got her good grades. It’s a surreal feeling. At times paternal too! J
Need I say more? I’m pretty much at a loss for words in how to close this blog. I leave the rest for you to figure!
Cheers! J
So, what has really happened in the last six months that has brought about this incredible metamorphosis?
Well, even for the “vocabularily-gifted” like me, words – in these moments – are hard to find. Having been a staunch believer, over the years, that words can convey the deepest of human emotions, today I find myself challenging this long-standing belief.
An identity is a highly underrated notion. Your identity – I believe is who you are. And this description transcends dictionary boundaries. What I mean by this, is that who you believe you are, really turns out to be deciding factor in shaping the ‘real you’. If I think I’m fat, well then that’s it. That’s who I am! I will never look at clothing stores, not because I don’t want to, but because I believe I will never find anything my size, let alone facing the embarrassment of the store person tell you, “Sir, we do not have an XXXXXL”. You will never want to go to a beach because the fear of seeing yourself without a shirt is scary. You will never want to look into the mirror, because it would mean standing a kilometer away from the mirror for all of YOU to fit in it. You will never want to dance because dancing may mean you cramping your “Super sized pectoral muscles”. And in sometime, as Newton’s’ First Law of Motion defines, the inertia in your life will make you want to stop living!
Today my identity stands revamped, refurbished. And what this does for me, is, not only do I now have a new “me”, I also have a “She” – Niyati. Not in my wildest dreams could I’ve imagined that anyone could take over my life in such a short span of time and renovate it, while I am ‘living the life’.
This blog is my way of letting go of the emotional “pressure cooker”. And for the first time, in a long time, letting go of the whistle is to let out gushing pleasure, sheer uninhibited pleasure.
My girlfriend is someone who I would’ve never thought would be my ‘girlfriend’. Why? Because, I never felt that someone like her would settle for someone like me. Yes, I’m me and I’m the best blah, blah, blah… but it’s been a while that I had someone literally sweep me off my feet. I fail to fathom how in 15weeks I feel so unbelievably fulfilled.
So well, for the one’s who’ve attended my seminars and are aware of the “Six Fundamental Human Needs” – here’s a scorecard!
(By the time you finish reading the scorecard and the synopsis, even the slightly “logically-challenged” section of my readers would be able to comprehend my fanatic love for this woman! Read on…
Pre-Niyati :
Certainty : 2
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 9
Love & Connection ; 2
Growth : 7
Contribution : 4
Post-Niyati :
Certainty : 7
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 10
Love & Connection ; 9
Growth : 9
Contribution : 9
What’s caused the difference?
Certainty :
Before I knew Niyu, I had no idea what I wanted out of my life. Inspired by Baz Luhrmans’ now immortal Wear Sunscreen where he says - ”Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what to do with your life...the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.” - I just went about my business everyday, just because the sun rose.
Now, everyday has a new meaning. There are times when you just wade through a day waiting for evening when it’d be day (EST) to talk to Niyu !!! There is so much of assurance in the fact that no matter what, no matter whom, I’m working towards being with her. This is better than ANY goal setting session I have ever conducted / been part of / held at IPCA!!! ;-)
Uncertainty :
This aspect remains unchanged as genetically I’m a very ‘happening’ person! Some or the ‘thing’ is always ‘happening’ to me – then AND now !
Significance :
Yes I felt incredibly significant during my training sessions / seminars previously however the fact that this significance is just momentary was always at the back of my mind.
Now, I have perennial significance in someone’s life. NOONE, not my most ardent followers, have ever made me feel as important as my girl does. She calls me ritWikipedia… ;-) Now that’s some weight to carry around !
Love & Connection :
This ‘need’ was never really on my priority list before. Now, on hindsight, I feel perhaps I knew I’d never get it hence I’d unchecked it off my ‘priority list’.
Today, I know, no matter how close or how far, there is someone who loves me as much as I love her, at times I do admit (just to myself) more than I love her. She has reaffirmed my belief in relationships. Niyati, undoubtedly is the best part of my day.
Growth :
This is a need I incredibly value. Before I met Niyati my growth (even though abundant) was restricted to financial growth and my career.
Today, after six months with Niyati, I can say I’ve evolved as a person, as a partner, as a son and as a friend in more ways than I could have ever imagined.
Contribution :
My contribution to other peoples’ lives has always been ‘profound’ for lack of a better word. Be it my “sexual counseling” in my college days or being the shoulder to cry on later on in life, or during my seminars, I’ve always been a “giver”.
With Niyati, I can see my contribution not just immensely valued but very well executed. The other day I got an email from her talking about how my contribution – direct or indirect – got her good grades. It’s a surreal feeling. At times paternal too! J
Need I say more? I’m pretty much at a loss for words in how to close this blog. I leave the rest for you to figure!
Cheers! J
Saturday, July 12, 2008
"I am," I said
To no one there, And no one heard at all,
Not even the chair,
"I am," I cried "I am," said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still
Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of bein' a king
And then became one,
Well except for the names and a few other changes,
If you talk about me, the story's the same one
But I got an emptiness deep inside,
And I've tried, but it won't let me go,
And I'm not a man who likes to swear,
But I never cared for the sound of being alone."
This Neil Diamond song very vividly captures my exact frame of mind as I lay on the couch on a dreary Friday night.
To no one there, And no one heard at all,
Not even the chair,
"I am," I cried "I am," said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still
Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of bein' a king
And then became one,
Well except for the names and a few other changes,
If you talk about me, the story's the same one
But I got an emptiness deep inside,
And I've tried, but it won't let me go,
And I'm not a man who likes to swear,
But I never cared for the sound of being alone."
This Neil Diamond song very vividly captures my exact frame of mind as I lay on the couch on a dreary Friday night.
How much is too much?
How much is too much?
Very often I have encountered these situations wherein – especially in a relationship – I’ve found myself asking this question, “How much is too much?”
So really, how much is too much? How much of trying is too much trying? How much love is too much love? How much trust is too much trust? How much sex is too much sex?
Seems like a real head-scratcher, this one. But the fact is that especially in todays busy urban lives, the propensity of one partner starting to feel that he / she is getting screwed over, is way too much.
So what makes us reach this “emotional threshold”? Is it paranoia of not feeling “loved” enough? Is it the unearthly realization one morning over coffee that the one person you consider most important counts you after his / her shoeshine?
.
Human Needs Psychology advocates that people have different priorities in life and the order in which you are priorities are, shape all your choices and decisions. So how long does it take us mere urban mortals to realize that even though we may try our best to knock down some doors, they would not open till the right combination is keyed in.
I guess it takes the incoherent proclivity of “following ones’ heart” to realize these defunct absolutions.
Very often I have encountered these situations wherein – especially in a relationship – I’ve found myself asking this question, “How much is too much?”
So really, how much is too much? How much of trying is too much trying? How much love is too much love? How much trust is too much trust? How much sex is too much sex?
Seems like a real head-scratcher, this one. But the fact is that especially in todays busy urban lives, the propensity of one partner starting to feel that he / she is getting screwed over, is way too much.
So what makes us reach this “emotional threshold”? Is it paranoia of not feeling “loved” enough? Is it the unearthly realization one morning over coffee that the one person you consider most important counts you after his / her shoeshine?
.
Human Needs Psychology advocates that people have different priorities in life and the order in which you are priorities are, shape all your choices and decisions. So how long does it take us mere urban mortals to realize that even though we may try our best to knock down some doors, they would not open till the right combination is keyed in.
I guess it takes the incoherent proclivity of “following ones’ heart” to realize these defunct absolutions.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Happy to Help ????
It's been less than 24 hours since my last post yesterday evening and I'm overwhelmed with the response that my "debut" blog has received from fellow 'netizens'.
While I've been contemplating the exact reason as to why I felt so euphoric after the session at my school, I've been thinking about a few other things as well. Namely, my mobile phone.
Why my mobile phone? Good question. I've been trying to get an issue that I was facing with my operator resolved over the weekend without much success. So while I have hordes of ardent blog followers who want to get in touch with me (or so I'd like to believe) I've not been able to get "uninterrupted" service as promised by my operator. So here I am on the phone once again, bellowing at the hapless "Customer Service Executive" who apparently was "Happy to Help" - that is till she received my call!
Here are the 'explicit' details, firsthand!
10:30PM, Saturday night.
Welcome to Vodafone, my name is Suvidha, happy to help you...
I don't think you are, this is the 4th time I'm calling you today and my phone still isn't working....see I’m someone who needs my phone.... (interrupted)
Can you please verify your billing address???
I've done this before (so there I go with my billing address AND my date of birth because I know that would be the next question...)
Thank you for that information and sir can you please give me your date of birth?
I just did! Didn't you hear me???? Why do I need to give that you again????
Sir, you gave it to me when I did not ask you for it. For our verification, it is important that you give it to me again.
(Losing it, bit by bit) Why should I do that! You did not hear me that's your problem!
Sir, if you want me to help you, please cooperate!
(By now completely furious) I want to talk to your manager please.
Sorry sir, you can't talk to my manager!
Why not????
Sir, it's against our policies.
(Aghast) Against your policies??? I'm a customer and I'm pissed. I want to talk to someone who understands what I'm saying!
Sir, if you do not cooperate, I will have to disconnect the call.
What the %$#@! You can't do that.....
My phone flashes "Call Summary 00:09:23"
That's it I thought! I've had enough of this. And just as I was going to redial the number for customer service, I realized, it wasn't her fault. She wasn't trained well. Now these are limitations of being from the training and development fraternity. We tend to be highly critical of even the slightest of indifference / slackness in service and tend to pile the blame onto training. How true is that? I began to wonder. How much can training do? How much of a difference does training make?
With that thought I sign off. My next post would have more...
Keep reading :)
While I've been contemplating the exact reason as to why I felt so euphoric after the session at my school, I've been thinking about a few other things as well. Namely, my mobile phone.
Why my mobile phone? Good question. I've been trying to get an issue that I was facing with my operator resolved over the weekend without much success. So while I have hordes of ardent blog followers who want to get in touch with me (or so I'd like to believe) I've not been able to get "uninterrupted" service as promised by my operator. So here I am on the phone once again, bellowing at the hapless "Customer Service Executive" who apparently was "Happy to Help" - that is till she received my call!
Here are the 'explicit' details, firsthand!
10:30PM, Saturday night.
Welcome to Vodafone, my name is Suvidha, happy to help you...
I don't think you are, this is the 4th time I'm calling you today and my phone still isn't working....see I’m someone who needs my phone.... (interrupted)
Can you please verify your billing address???
I've done this before (so there I go with my billing address AND my date of birth because I know that would be the next question...)
Thank you for that information and sir can you please give me your date of birth?
I just did! Didn't you hear me???? Why do I need to give that you again????
Sir, you gave it to me when I did not ask you for it. For our verification, it is important that you give it to me again.
(Losing it, bit by bit) Why should I do that! You did not hear me that's your problem!
Sir, if you want me to help you, please cooperate!
(By now completely furious) I want to talk to your manager please.
Sorry sir, you can't talk to my manager!
Why not????
Sir, it's against our policies.
(Aghast) Against your policies??? I'm a customer and I'm pissed. I want to talk to someone who understands what I'm saying!
Sir, if you do not cooperate, I will have to disconnect the call.
What the %$#@! You can't do that.....
My phone flashes "Call Summary 00:09:23"
That's it I thought! I've had enough of this. And just as I was going to redial the number for customer service, I realized, it wasn't her fault. She wasn't trained well. Now these are limitations of being from the training and development fraternity. We tend to be highly critical of even the slightest of indifference / slackness in service and tend to pile the blame onto training. How true is that? I began to wonder. How much can training do? How much of a difference does training make?
With that thought I sign off. My next post would have more...
Keep reading :)
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Life, The Leveler !
Every now and then, just when you felt that nothing “dramatic” could happen to you, there are incidents / moments that not only change your perspective on the present but very radically influence the way you shape the future.
Since time immemorial, I’ve believed that man discovered fire and Ritwik discovered playing with it. (Quite literally!) They say “Lives of great men all remind us that we must make our lives sublime and departing leave behind footprints in the sands of time.” Well in todays’ urbane day and age, sand or even the presence of it is limited to hourglasses – if you are fortunate enough to spot these relics!
Talking of an hourglass, this week, I experienced what I term the “hourglass effect” in my life. Let me elucidate on what I imply by the patented “hourglass effect”!
Friday, 4th of July 2008, 232 years after the United States of America experienced a sea change and was overnight catapulted into the unrelenting “jaws of freedom and sovereignty”, I witnessed a similar (if only metaphorically) transition. At 10.30am IST, I actually was standing in the auditorium of St. Anne’s High School, Mumbai and this time there was a role reversal. Far from being the “receiver”, this time around I was the provider! I was there for a seminar on what the principal very candidly christened “Life Skills”.
As a peak performance coach and a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner, I was there to identify behavioral patterns that make us tick, that makes us succeed.
So there I was, trying very hard to be ‘nonchalant’ as I saw a sea of students file in. With notebooks clutched in their hands and expressions of pure innocence etched on their faces – BANG there I was again. Instantaneously, I was back to my school days, the days of yore as I fondly refer to them as! I remembered that in that same auditorium I had (as a contestant) borne witness to myriad elocution competitions, debates and the works.
And then, out of nowhere, the sights, the sounds, the “clickety-clack” plastic chairs, the squeaky microphone brought back that hollow feeling in me, the feeling of adrenalin running loose through every millimeter of my body. I thought to myself, how was this possible? I mean after having trained scores of people from various backgrounds, Vice Presidents and CEOs of companies, here I was in front of a few hundred 14 – 15 year olds and I was nervous?
I haven’t still been able to figure out whether I was nervous because of the venue and the props or was it because I was in my school, in front of teachers who had watched me grow up, in that very auditorium where I had received numerous accolades and savored many famous victories. But one thing that dawned on me right then and there was that no matter how much headway one makes in life, or no matter how many hurdles one may have crossed in ones’ life, no matter how many matches a sportsman may have won in his life, the arena where it all had started for you, will always bring back that rush.
So as I cleared my throat and welcomed the crowd that had gathered there, I was constantly talking to myself.
Damn! There I was, an “accomplished life skills coach” and I was palpitating! (Not to mention the profuse perspiration) I couldn’t fathom or digest the fact that being someone who coaches others on performance management and peak performance crests; I was not being able to practice what I preach! I had to do this well. For no one else but for myself. I had to prove to myself that I shall overcome!
As I began with introducing myself, I couldn’t but help notice that my “worldly” credentials meant nothing as I stood there, amidst a few hundred gaping students. I bet they were wondering what this bald guy with a French beard, who’s probably walked straight out of a Ramsay Brothers movie, would teach them. The ‘mistrust’ was palpable. The youthful energy, more so.
I realized that my first task would be to win over their faith and to build the kind of rapport that would be necessary, if I were to ensure even one percent retention.
The rapport building was not difficult I noticed. I was instantaneously myself. I was the ‘Ritwik of yore!’ The kind of raw, vibrant energy that I felt made me feel so powerful. There I was. Amidst déjà vu.
I don’t know how the next three hours just went by. I pulled out anecdotes from nowhere. I felt myself to be one of the crowd. I guess that did half the job.
I didn’t realize I was very close to the “end time”, when I hard the buzzer go.
As I concluded the session, and walked off the stage amidst the thunderous applause, I couldn’t figure out what exactly made me feel so ecstatic. Was it the venue, was it the sheer experience of watching your teachers listen to you with rapt attention – the same teachers who once rebuked you for NOT paying attention.
I am still trying to figure that out, even as I type.
Any suggestions???? :)
Since time immemorial, I’ve believed that man discovered fire and Ritwik discovered playing with it. (Quite literally!) They say “Lives of great men all remind us that we must make our lives sublime and departing leave behind footprints in the sands of time.” Well in todays’ urbane day and age, sand or even the presence of it is limited to hourglasses – if you are fortunate enough to spot these relics!
Talking of an hourglass, this week, I experienced what I term the “hourglass effect” in my life. Let me elucidate on what I imply by the patented “hourglass effect”!
Friday, 4th of July 2008, 232 years after the United States of America experienced a sea change and was overnight catapulted into the unrelenting “jaws of freedom and sovereignty”, I witnessed a similar (if only metaphorically) transition. At 10.30am IST, I actually was standing in the auditorium of St. Anne’s High School, Mumbai and this time there was a role reversal. Far from being the “receiver”, this time around I was the provider! I was there for a seminar on what the principal very candidly christened “Life Skills”.
As a peak performance coach and a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner, I was there to identify behavioral patterns that make us tick, that makes us succeed.
So there I was, trying very hard to be ‘nonchalant’ as I saw a sea of students file in. With notebooks clutched in their hands and expressions of pure innocence etched on their faces – BANG there I was again. Instantaneously, I was back to my school days, the days of yore as I fondly refer to them as! I remembered that in that same auditorium I had (as a contestant) borne witness to myriad elocution competitions, debates and the works.
And then, out of nowhere, the sights, the sounds, the “clickety-clack” plastic chairs, the squeaky microphone brought back that hollow feeling in me, the feeling of adrenalin running loose through every millimeter of my body. I thought to myself, how was this possible? I mean after having trained scores of people from various backgrounds, Vice Presidents and CEOs of companies, here I was in front of a few hundred 14 – 15 year olds and I was nervous?
I haven’t still been able to figure out whether I was nervous because of the venue and the props or was it because I was in my school, in front of teachers who had watched me grow up, in that very auditorium where I had received numerous accolades and savored many famous victories. But one thing that dawned on me right then and there was that no matter how much headway one makes in life, or no matter how many hurdles one may have crossed in ones’ life, no matter how many matches a sportsman may have won in his life, the arena where it all had started for you, will always bring back that rush.
So as I cleared my throat and welcomed the crowd that had gathered there, I was constantly talking to myself.
Damn! There I was, an “accomplished life skills coach” and I was palpitating! (Not to mention the profuse perspiration) I couldn’t fathom or digest the fact that being someone who coaches others on performance management and peak performance crests; I was not being able to practice what I preach! I had to do this well. For no one else but for myself. I had to prove to myself that I shall overcome!
As I began with introducing myself, I couldn’t but help notice that my “worldly” credentials meant nothing as I stood there, amidst a few hundred gaping students. I bet they were wondering what this bald guy with a French beard, who’s probably walked straight out of a Ramsay Brothers movie, would teach them. The ‘mistrust’ was palpable. The youthful energy, more so.
I realized that my first task would be to win over their faith and to build the kind of rapport that would be necessary, if I were to ensure even one percent retention.
The rapport building was not difficult I noticed. I was instantaneously myself. I was the ‘Ritwik of yore!’ The kind of raw, vibrant energy that I felt made me feel so powerful. There I was. Amidst déjà vu.
I don’t know how the next three hours just went by. I pulled out anecdotes from nowhere. I felt myself to be one of the crowd. I guess that did half the job.
I didn’t realize I was very close to the “end time”, when I hard the buzzer go.
As I concluded the session, and walked off the stage amidst the thunderous applause, I couldn’t figure out what exactly made me feel so ecstatic. Was it the venue, was it the sheer experience of watching your teachers listen to you with rapt attention – the same teachers who once rebuked you for NOT paying attention.
I am still trying to figure that out, even as I type.
Any suggestions???? :)
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