Lincoln in his first inaugural address talked about the Mystic Chords of Memory. Pandit Nehru in his classic book, The Discovery of India talking about who he was in prison when he wrote the book, closed the foreword with "it represents rather some past self of mine which has already joined that long succession df other selves that existed for a while and faded away, leaving only a memory behind."
Both leaders were referring to salient events in the past that bear importance to the present. That a set of chemicals that constitute our brain cells can carry such memories is wondrous indeed.
Stirred by these words as well as the upcoming second inaugural of President Obama, I thought I might dig into my past with the following two questions. What single moment stands out in each decade of my life and what relevance does it bear upon my present attitude and why?
I am setting aside from consideration instances such as first love, marriage, birth of a child, death of a parent because they are at once deeply private and fully universal. Instead, I would like to focus on those moments that present rich and fresh photographic evidence in my mind's eye.
I hope you enjoy these five stories.
Age Sub 10s - The rickshaw
Long before manually pedaled rickshaws became fashionable in NYC, they were a regular feature in cities like Hyderabad. As a child I spent my summers there where both my grandparents lived. On occasional evenings my maternal grandmother would want to visit the other. There was no one to accompany her and I would be induced with a promise of funds for a cinema later.
I have vivid memories of this five mile journey between the two houses. My grandmother, a heavy set lady and me, a scrawny peanut.
During the journey, there would be a couple of sharp turns. The rickshaw peddler was scrawny himself. Given his low horsepower and my light weight the rickshaw would tip precariously towards my grandmother's side. Bedlam would ensue with frantic calls for me to keep my side of the rickshaw down. The best I could do was hang on for dear life.
We would eventually reach safe and sound. But this happened a few times each summer for a few summers.
Looking back: certainly a vivid memory. I suppose sometimes we are called to help, way beyond our capacity. And all we are really trying to do is to hang on for dear life!
Age 10s - The jump
I had great fun with athletics at school. We had 'sports houses' we belonged to and every win gave points to the house. I was interested in high jump and practiced constantly, even during breaks between classes.
One day during break I was practicing with my friends watching. I set the bar higher than I was used to. My friends said I couldn't clear it. And I was not able to through 5 or 6 attempts to clear the bar.
The recess bell then rang and we were required to return to class.
I was going to try once more. And for whatever reason, one of my friends said, 'don't worry, you will clear it this time'
I ran, swiveled and jumped. And I cleared it with the most magnificent feeling of accomplishment in my heart.
Looking back: I had the motivation, the set-up and the practice to jump well. But positive affirmation from trusted friends made me succeed beyond what until then was my 'current capacity'.
Age 20s - First job
We were new to America and I was looking for my first job in the corporate sector. I was not confident of how I presented myself, nor my spoken language skills.
My job interview was with a manufacturing plant in Philadelphia. Up until that I don't believe I have interacted with African American union leaders on the shop floor. I certainly was not used to 'inner city shop floor language'
Part of my interview was touring the plant with the Chief Engineer. Presently we arrived at a Computer Control of a manufacturing machine (a lathe).
I knew that controller, and that 'language' I knew! I got totally animated and talked about all the things one could do with that controller and machine.
I was literally hired on the spot.
Looking back: There is a lot of discussion about interviewing strategies. Certainly I have conducted many hundreds of interviews over the past 20 years. There appears to be lots of advice on how to answer questions. However, it seems to me the key attribute after is said and done all is, 'can you do the job (enthusiastically)?'
Age 30s - Whirly whig
It was the height of the dot com craze and I got call early in the morning on a Saturday to visit my friend to discuss an amazing business opportunity.
I jumped into my car and after grabbing coffee sped along north on the west side highway of New York city. Just about where the 'cloisters' are there is a bend in the road. Suddenly out of the blue, my car lost control. It started spinning round and round like a whirly whig. It finally crashed into the side embankment.
Shaken, I got out of the car and went to the back to examine the damage. To my horror another car lost control and started spinning towards me and crashed into the embankment as well, behind my car.
As I ran for safety, I realized that there was some sort of oil slick on the road that caused the cars to lose traction.
Looking back: A blazingly vivid image in my mind! A very clarifying moment for me about what was important to me; with the real knowledge that life is fragile indeed.
Age 40s - Signature
I was in San Diego this week for a Client Conference. The occasion was a panel discussion that I was invited to participate in. In the audience were senior leaders major client companies.
And also many of my colleagues and leaders from my organization were in attendance as well. On the panel were HR executives of Fortune 500 companies, the moderator (my boss) and myself. I was the last to get on stage (out of courtesy to our clients) and was horrified to find that they left me the middle seat on stage. These were senior people who knew much more about the topic at hand than I ever would.
It was a bit of a high risk situation where I could come across as the most inexperienced person on stage or worse stumble on my words (whatever they might be) - and perhaps disappoint my own colleagues.
In this situation, I needed a zone of mental comfort. I was certainly prepared with my remarks. But unlike a regular presentation, a panel discussion means you need to be ready for back and forth and on the spur comments. So the only way to be successful was to be comfortable mentally. How to get there, was the urgent question.
This was the thought that was occupying me as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror that morning as I was shaving and thinking about the upcoming session.
Then I thought of the word 'signature'. What was my signature move in terms of presentation. When the chips were down, what was my move? What was my natural persona?
I decided my signature had two aspects to it. One was that I loved being with clients. And the other was that I was a reasonably good strategist. The other was the various strategies I had developed for them and the ones that they really liked.
I then carried that feeling onto the stage. I will tell you that having just experienced it, this was not easy. Throughout the panel that lasted over an hour, as the conversation ebbed and flowed (with me sitting in the center...!), I had to maintain my poise and watch my answers so that they fit in the context of the conversation.
Looking back: I am relieved to report that this technique worked. It was a good experience; but more importantly - a good technique discovered!
Age 50s
No memories yet since this is still a few clicks away!
Both leaders were referring to salient events in the past that bear importance to the present. That a set of chemicals that constitute our brain cells can carry such memories is wondrous indeed.
Stirred by these words as well as the upcoming second inaugural of President Obama, I thought I might dig into my past with the following two questions. What single moment stands out in each decade of my life and what relevance does it bear upon my present attitude and why?
I am setting aside from consideration instances such as first love, marriage, birth of a child, death of a parent because they are at once deeply private and fully universal. Instead, I would like to focus on those moments that present rich and fresh photographic evidence in my mind's eye.
I hope you enjoy these five stories.
Age Sub 10s - The rickshaw
Long before manually pedaled rickshaws became fashionable in NYC, they were a regular feature in cities like Hyderabad. As a child I spent my summers there where both my grandparents lived. On occasional evenings my maternal grandmother would want to visit the other. There was no one to accompany her and I would be induced with a promise of funds for a cinema later.
I have vivid memories of this five mile journey between the two houses. My grandmother, a heavy set lady and me, a scrawny peanut.
During the journey, there would be a couple of sharp turns. The rickshaw peddler was scrawny himself. Given his low horsepower and my light weight the rickshaw would tip precariously towards my grandmother's side. Bedlam would ensue with frantic calls for me to keep my side of the rickshaw down. The best I could do was hang on for dear life.
We would eventually reach safe and sound. But this happened a few times each summer for a few summers.
Looking back: certainly a vivid memory. I suppose sometimes we are called to help, way beyond our capacity. And all we are really trying to do is to hang on for dear life!
Age 10s - The jump
I had great fun with athletics at school. We had 'sports houses' we belonged to and every win gave points to the house. I was interested in high jump and practiced constantly, even during breaks between classes.
One day during break I was practicing with my friends watching. I set the bar higher than I was used to. My friends said I couldn't clear it. And I was not able to through 5 or 6 attempts to clear the bar.
The recess bell then rang and we were required to return to class.
I was going to try once more. And for whatever reason, one of my friends said, 'don't worry, you will clear it this time'
I ran, swiveled and jumped. And I cleared it with the most magnificent feeling of accomplishment in my heart.
Looking back: I had the motivation, the set-up and the practice to jump well. But positive affirmation from trusted friends made me succeed beyond what until then was my 'current capacity'.
Age 20s - First job
We were new to America and I was looking for my first job in the corporate sector. I was not confident of how I presented myself, nor my spoken language skills.
My job interview was with a manufacturing plant in Philadelphia. Up until that I don't believe I have interacted with African American union leaders on the shop floor. I certainly was not used to 'inner city shop floor language'
Part of my interview was touring the plant with the Chief Engineer. Presently we arrived at a Computer Control of a manufacturing machine (a lathe).
I knew that controller, and that 'language' I knew! I got totally animated and talked about all the things one could do with that controller and machine.
I was literally hired on the spot.
Looking back: There is a lot of discussion about interviewing strategies. Certainly I have conducted many hundreds of interviews over the past 20 years. There appears to be lots of advice on how to answer questions. However, it seems to me the key attribute after is said and done all is, 'can you do the job (enthusiastically)?'
Age 30s - Whirly whig
It was the height of the dot com craze and I got call early in the morning on a Saturday to visit my friend to discuss an amazing business opportunity.
I jumped into my car and after grabbing coffee sped along north on the west side highway of New York city. Just about where the 'cloisters' are there is a bend in the road. Suddenly out of the blue, my car lost control. It started spinning round and round like a whirly whig. It finally crashed into the side embankment.
Shaken, I got out of the car and went to the back to examine the damage. To my horror another car lost control and started spinning towards me and crashed into the embankment as well, behind my car.
As I ran for safety, I realized that there was some sort of oil slick on the road that caused the cars to lose traction.
Looking back: A blazingly vivid image in my mind! A very clarifying moment for me about what was important to me; with the real knowledge that life is fragile indeed.
Age 40s - Signature
I was in San Diego this week for a Client Conference. The occasion was a panel discussion that I was invited to participate in. In the audience were senior leaders major client companies.
And also many of my colleagues and leaders from my organization were in attendance as well. On the panel were HR executives of Fortune 500 companies, the moderator (my boss) and myself. I was the last to get on stage (out of courtesy to our clients) and was horrified to find that they left me the middle seat on stage. These were senior people who knew much more about the topic at hand than I ever would.
It was a bit of a high risk situation where I could come across as the most inexperienced person on stage or worse stumble on my words (whatever they might be) - and perhaps disappoint my own colleagues.
In this situation, I needed a zone of mental comfort. I was certainly prepared with my remarks. But unlike a regular presentation, a panel discussion means you need to be ready for back and forth and on the spur comments. So the only way to be successful was to be comfortable mentally. How to get there, was the urgent question.
This was the thought that was occupying me as I stood in front of the bathroom mirror that morning as I was shaving and thinking about the upcoming session.
Then I thought of the word 'signature'. What was my signature move in terms of presentation. When the chips were down, what was my move? What was my natural persona?
I decided my signature had two aspects to it. One was that I loved being with clients. And the other was that I was a reasonably good strategist. The other was the various strategies I had developed for them and the ones that they really liked.
I then carried that feeling onto the stage. I will tell you that having just experienced it, this was not easy. Throughout the panel that lasted over an hour, as the conversation ebbed and flowed (with me sitting in the center...!), I had to maintain my poise and watch my answers so that they fit in the context of the conversation.
Looking back: I am relieved to report that this technique worked. It was a good experience; but more importantly - a good technique discovered!
Age 50s
No memories yet since this is still a few clicks away!
2 comments:
nice retrieving of memories and good conclusions
Nice blog, I am on the west coast next week and will have to make a key address to a large audience. Will keep the signature advice in mind, very apt for the occasion.
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