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???? :)