Life for all of us can be divided in phases with each phase having different things in store for us. With the end of every phase, there is a hope for a better new phase. We all set out to experience that with certain expectations and certain rules that we decide within ourselves to follow in this new phase. May it be going from school to Junior college, JC to Graduate, Graduate to Post-Graduate and finally from PG to Work Life.
Whatever mistakes we make in last phase, we learn from it so we don’t repeat it and all successes in last phase help us improve the strengths and this collective (a mixed bag of) experiences help us make our new phase a better one. Till the time we reach Post-Graduate phase, we always are in a secured environment, secured by our parents, our friends, our teachers and most importantly controls designed by the authorities that help us not to deviate from our limits.
But, then comes a phase of corporate life, which by almost every mean is a different and unique in regards to what it has to offer us. Though parents are always there, but they do not have that direct an influence over the behavior of external factors. Same is the case with our friends, here they are replaced by colleagues or work associates if I may use the sophisticated term who in an indirect manner are positive competitors. There are no teachers; there are seniors, managers, Directors and VPs. Though the role they play is similar to teachers; something that is very important to determine how you will perform in your corporate life.
But, very often there are not those controls on how will you deal with a business situation. Everything here is left to our capabilities and abilities to think & execute differently. We don’t know your limits and we come to know about them when we cross them. While in our earlier phases; there were KT exams or a chance to appear again, they are a rare case when it comes to corporate. In today’s competitive world, businesses can’t take chances with under-performers and there is no just passing marks scenario here. We are either average to top performer or a failure and fired.
Keeping this in mind, this phase brings in a lot of anxiety, some expectations that we have from ourselves because of successes in our past phases, some “look-out for potholes” that we get to hear as an advice from our well wishers all around. This anxiousness, expectation, emotions running across, thoughts in the mind and all that make us impulsive at times which may not be the best solution to the issues because what is more important is “Finding a solution to the problem and not just answering the question” and it is not about finding “Who is right?” but the real success is to find “What is right?” and in the search of this, we reach excellence which matters more than anything else.
So, what I am trying to say to myself and to all my fellow friends, classmates and colleagues is that Life is not going to be as rosy as it was till now and now is the time to be the “Hero”. Leading student councils and being a team player till now is obviously a learning experience in itself, but the real application of what we learned till now is NOW. Some of us may have never been a part of any councils or committees but still can be top leaders of future while some of us who may have been can never guarantee their success ahead. So, in this uncertain yet exciting phase what matters is how positive, calm and dynamic we are when a situation or an issue confronts us.
So, folks let us all stay positive, keep it cool and be as dynamic as we can as this new phase begins so that we can be the Hero/Heroine of our real lives.
Take care & Keep Smiling !!!
