Life Lessons to Business Learning

Gardening is therapeutic; I have been listening to that for a very long time. Never tried, never even thought of it. First it was Sadhna Agarwala my wife who use to the tend to all that was growing. Some members of the family growing to become big and strong and and some growing up and becoming weaker and weaker and finally taking full retirement form this planet. I knew that these both ages had very different needs of nutrition, environment for their peace and learning and mood swings depending upon what they went through and what she was going through. This constellation made the living smooth and at times move in rapid crest and troughs. Back to gardening - I picked up gardening quite by chance. One the gardener stopped coming. Two Amazon started delivering. Three we bought a new broom. 

What is the connection – I too wondered. The lockdown and what a lockdown – everything was still and stationery – except the plants and hairs on my head were growing non stop and good for that. The plants and trees increased the green cover and oxygen and hair growth on my head (however scanty) made me appreciate the barber (nai). It suddenly stuck me that the need to reengineer life and business and market becomes critical when the market conditions change and alter. 

Oh back to gardening. So the gardener was gone and the front of house stared at me each morning and evening when I came out for my share of cool fresh breeze and does my yoga. The soil needed tending and the plants required pruning. Dry unwanted leaves (like unwanted people) were to be removed, lest they decay. This was to be made in compost so that however unwanted they may be once they change form – they can be made useful. 

There came the thought of the having the right tools and knowledge. The tools came from Amazon and when they said it would take 10 days to deliver – the impatient me wanted it tomorrow like my boss wanted business each day and the latest time he ever gave me was tomorrow. I negotiated with Amozon and got it delivered in 2 days. Yes you can negotiate delivery time with Amazon. 

Came my gardening tools, nothing fancy and I bought the cheapest one by selecting the price sort option (baniya you see. These became my prized possessions and a lover and owner of great expensive and fancy pens and stationery I look after my tools with love and care an they serve me for decades. 

Youtube came to rescue – learnt tools and their usage and not just usage the correct usage and their names and the technology behind their shape form and strength. Not to forget the cut safe gloves and the mask. I learnt, if one wishes to achieve and contribute, one needs to keep her/himself safe and good. Each piece was unique in it’s use and usage. Lazy that I was, I misused one tool and paid the price of loosing a plant. Pain of loosing came alive for me. 

This opened up a world of business understanding of different businesses using it or different products differently and naming and using them differently. Simple case in point being air and water. Some industries need chilled water and some need super heated and some need steam. It helped me in reconfiguring solutions to the customers I am consulting. 

The soil and plants had their own story and sensitivity. Each required a different type of strength and care. Some needed to be dealt with firmly and strongly and chopped off and some needed baby like handling with velvet gloves to be tended, spoken to and re-established in their own space and peace. Some injured roots had to be left to themselves not that they were uncared for but they needed their own time and space to heal to be strong and ready for the future of rain and storm. 

The soil needed the most care. They loved when I handled them layer-by-layer and not like a dredger. Some was rock solid, some mushy and some watery due to an early morning rain. They all needed attention – no no – they needed love and care as due. Some needed a massage; some physiotherapy even at the cost of pain and some required mixing with the right soil of a different kind to become robust. 

I was tired – dog-tired by now. Two reasons. Looking after plants and me? Really! Karma said yes YOU. Not done it so far now do it “over time”. Second it was to teach me pruning and choosing; People, relations, customers, technology and above all the size of the geography you wish to start. My “little” garden become much larger suddenly and was much smaller when I was negotiating with my gardener. All customers have same psychology. When they need it the need is critical and the task is humongous yet when they outsource it they wish to pay peanuts. 

Oh, I recall, I was tired, dog-tired. GOD said no my dear, not so soon. You have duties to perform and miles to go before you rest. No work is finished. It’s always to be completed for the day and time. So now was the time to clean up. Clean up the mess that I created and clean up the mess that the dust and rain with storm brought in. Garden was full of leaves and dried twigs and dust and sum muck too. Not mine, not thrown by any of my family members, yet it was on my “plate”. Love it or hate it its on me to mop it clean. 

Now you know what new broom was a VIP. That was now my magic wand. Not on which K K Rowling weaved a story but a tool, which was to help me clean up. Clean up dust, dried leaves, fallen flowers who lost their charm and fragrance. Not to forget the garbage which was not my creation but it was my responsibility and job. 

Whose home – Mine – Who’s Garden – Mine – Who’s life – Mine – Who’s Responsibility – Mine. And above all who’s health – mine – Responsibility…..Well Gym Owner and Nutritionist – No. It’s mine. #Yoga #Vipassana #Meditation #NoComplaint