Not Ideal but Workable
Ajay Kovelakonda
Building UPnRise | Learning Architect I Teacher@Heart I Global Learning Leader I Loves Tennis
“We will be using 1 ventilator for 2 patients” said the New York’s mayor in a media conference held last night. This would help meet the ever-rising demand & overcome the pandemic. He stressed how this was not the ideal solution but workable and gives the needed result.
How many times are we always looking for the best possible solution? Does our search for perfection put additional pressure on resources and costs?
A few recent incidents during the current 21-day lock-down in India gifted me a personal insight & bittersweet lesson of
“How much I unnecessarily fuss about things around”. And, I often miss “that a workable solution is always near”.
A flood of out-of-routine experiences and emotions on the basic elements of food, clothing, shelter & work are inundating us. I am sure you too are sensing it every day.
How is our work changing today?
While work from home is the current new normal, we see a great change in acceptance to elements which were normally frowned upon
- It is today “OK” to join a team meetings a few minutes late. Even if the manager joins a bit late, all the team members are cool & relish chatting between colleagues on “how they are coping” and “what is happening on ground”. Further, it is no longer a blasphemy if people suddenly dropout of meetings and everybody is waiting patiently till they join back.
- New digital solutions do not look that tough After-all. A project that normally takes a couple of weeks to get “inputs” and “buy in” from all concerned get completed in just 2-3 days.
- Background squeals of laughter, screaming kids, and cartoon songs are a welcome distraction.
- Uncut hair, unshaven faces, and colleagues in pajama’s starts looking cute.
What do food at home today mean to us?
For most of us, family time and eating together are precious. Every meal at home is so much more relishing.
- No longer, all items on menu needed for a brunch or a dinner. A small pack of biscuits is also valuable and should be used in the right way
- The accidentally curdled milk gets converted to Paneer (cheese), served as a curry and amusingly tastes yummy.
- A victorious feeling if we can get fresh fruits and vegetables. Grocery deposits at home are keenly reviewed like monetary balance in current account.
- For some it is a great opportunity to learn cooking, for some to control the calories and come out fitter.
I am sure you too have many personal examples that supplement to this. Do share in the comment section.
What are you wearing today?
It has become a less relevant today. Power dressing, corporate dressing, and social dressing are no longer the current need.
- Big budget savings on detergents and power usage. Precious water getting saved as smaller number of clothes used in a day.
- Zero cost of ironing and being free from the anxiety of multiple visits to laundry.
- Most of our cupboards are full and shouting back at the excess clothing that are getting hoarded.Overall need for office clothing to come down.
What a pleasure to have a safe shelter?
They are unfortunately few people who are stranded and not in their homes, we pray they are back home soon hale & healthy. People living in their own homes and those renting out are
- Making full utilization of the balconies & other areas for the first time. Rediscovering the art of mopping, cleaning & cooking.
- Ensuring complete return of investment on rent or home loan. Discovering new usable corners in the house (Dining table as I type this).
- Seriously pondering, if they really need both the house maids every day.
- Experiencing a wake-up moment, deeply looking at the kids and thinking “When did they grow up so much”?
Even-though many of us prefer conversations in person and have multiple challenges of working from home, its surprising how we are giving "similar" or even "better" work-related outcomes. Work, family, home, friends, and interests all are amalgamating in new ways. We know the world has changed and we are in a new future. A slow realization is sinking in - we are becoming richer, deeper, and possibly wiser.
We know we will overcome. It is heartening to see everybody across the globe coming together. May not be in an ideal way but workable.
What are the insights you want to share?
Head - Growth & Strategy - India & South Asia
4 年Great summary of experience in the time of complete lock down ( WFH). In my view, slowly the world will move from "the perfect solution" to "Excellence" ( solution evolving over a period of time). Since we are responsible for everything at our home, hence we are developing and new mindset of " Excellence" , We don't crib on every small thing, but learn to live with it and enjoy it. During this period when we are sharing the work at home with other members ( cleaning, washing, etc) makes us more humble, because our sub-conscious mind is not doing your relative ranking of us in comparison to others (on brands, looks , cars, mobile and others ). Cheers Manoj
Very well written Ajay ! Its going to be reset button for all of us post Covid-19 life. We will see more happiness in less of the things and will value more what we have. Hope most of us learn to develop more humanity, become considerate than finding mistakes for better co-existence. More binding in relationships and enjoying the life itself ! Using more technology to connect others rather than meeting in person. It will be all about learn, re-learn and learn on how to protect our nature so that our future generation is live safely. Very thoughtful and insight article by you !
Regulatory Affairs Leader -India| Master of Science in Applied Electronics
4 年Very nice
Sr. Regional Manager | Siemens Healthineers | Varian | Ex GE | MedTech
4 年Well articulated and resonates well with most of us. A new normal has been packed into our lives by the Creator. In our pursuit for bigger and more materialistic things, never imagined a simple thing like being able to go out for a walk or take one’s car for a spin will be something that I will crave for.?
Building Salesperson Effectiveness
4 年“Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything.” ―?William Shakespeare,?As You Like It Most importantly we now realize that adversity has taught us that what works is perfect and not whats perfect - works. Thanks, Ajay for this article and for the courage to say that it is more important to get things going rather than waiting for perfection. Your article is timely and fits the mood of the environment.