Getting Along

Hi,

Today feels like a different day, and I seem to be in a clinical mood where I could dissect every idea and issue to the smallest level. And yet in such a mood, the question is always the biggest of them all. And that always is, what is the purpose of life.

While I was on my way to work, I watched parts of an interview on the mobile TV on the bus. An interview with Shashi Tharoor, author of a new book called "Riot". I guess people know him better these days as India's candidate for the UN Secretary general. The relevant point was the inerview set me thinking on what was it that made people tick at something. For Mr. Tharoor, it probably is writing and along with it a plump diplomatic job that he is weel suited to. The next obvious question, what is that thing for you and me.

In being a consultant, I often times ponder over the stereotype of the profession and I must admit that at most times I see a fantastic fit. But I guess having been into this for almost 18 months now, I have begun to question whether the stereotype is valid. I think the consulting job is more influenced by the organisation and the particular team you are working with, than the job itself. There are just too many variations in the approach to client engagements, in terms of context, attitude, leadership, approach and of course, the people; that describing the consulting job generically may indeed be misleading.

Back to the purpose of life, I keep reiterating to myself and others that the main thing is to live passionately. And yet in the daily scheme of things, passion gets thrown out of the window to be replaced with things like financial security, soceital existence (another term for emotional security) and not the least of all, career progression. If you are confused about these, think again, and you will find the diverging paths of your passion and the three pursuits I mentioned. I do not mean to say the paths will always diverge, because you can always live passionately while pursuing anything. But we tend to focus on the convenience of the journey rather than the completeness of the journey itself. I remember someone who believed in the phrase "Convenience Rules!" :)

The hope is to carry on the journey of life with vividity and completeness, so one can look back and feel that the time spent has been worthwhile and made a positive difference to atleast a few people. And as all consulting projects, such goals will need to be translated into action items and attitudes that can sustain. So here I begin a project for and on myself.

So much for now. For all those who celebrate, wish you a very Happy Deepavali!

Cheers,
Satish