I Meant To Behave But....

“Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.... The friction tends to arise when the two are not the same.... Lois McMaster Bujold

Dear Investors and Friends:

Welcome to this week’s SundayReads.

While chatting up with a friend, last week, a part of the conversation remained with me for a long time. He had split with his sales agent and a well-wisher friend informed him about the ex-agent bad-mouthing him in public using not-so-nice language. My friend refused to accept that the agent would use foul language and I pointed out to him that how people opine in public is very different from how they behave in private or with people whose views they are okay to disregard.

Isn’t it true? The way individuals express their opinions, beliefs, and attitudes in public settings can be significantly different from how they behave behind closed doors.

This is evident in some examples:

·??????People running a red light when driving alone but stopping at the signal when accompanied by colleagues or customers.

·??????People littering on the streets, but being more mindful when they're with their colleagues or friends.

·??????A friend’s husband is loved by his co-workers and people in the community and they would never believe the moodiness that he shows his family.

If you polled a large group of individuals of all ages, they would probably tell you that it is because people feel comfortable enough to vent at home where they feel secure that they will be accepted no matter what.

I, on the other hand, feel that this is only one factor that goes into the equation. People feel it is okay to behave sloppy and sometimes insensitively at home or when in conversation in private with a few, because this is sort of an unwritten social rule. At work, or with clients, people wouldn't dare to scream, shout, and be insulting because they don't want to lose their jobs. ?There’s even a name for the dance we do between the different personas we adopt inside and outside the home: free-trait behaviour; It is a way of acting out of character.

We all must own up. Be accountable.

Last fortnight, I received a traffic ticket for using my phone whilst in the car. It's been years since I last got one, but I took it as a teachable moment for my daughter Abha. As a parent, I want to instill certain values in her, such as taking ownership of one's actions. Although it was a costly ticket of Rs.2000/- , I'm grateful for the experience. As a parent, I believe in instilling certain values in my daughter and taking ownership is one of the most important ones. While I'm not thrilled about the ticket, I'm grateful for the opportunity to teach my daughter a valuable lesson.

We are currently living in a time where people often fail to take responsibility for their actions and their consequences. This lack of accountability is unfortunate as it prevents individuals from learning and growing from their mistakes. Ignoring one's role in a situation ultimately hinders personal growth and development.

What about you? What is the type of behaviour you wish your children or your team to emulate? Deeply ponder.

Until the next SundayRead, Ciao.

Helping you think thoughts you may not have thought before.