today...

Today is not yesterday. Yesterday is gone!

Time to look forward to the future and leave the past behind…. The ways of the world have improved and are paving the ways forward making the old systems redundant and faltering… But are the old systems really old and gone???

The real “Problem” with the “Present” is that for it the “Past” is irrelevant and the “Future” is to be looked upon as the truth and the reality to come and win over…?

“But what if the Future is incomplete without the Past??”?

Food for thought?

Heres Robin's Story....

Robin was ready to go to office. . His father, who had handed over the reins of the business to him 3 years ago (as it usually happens..) was sitting comfortably at the verandah with a newspaper in his hand and some piping hot tea at his table.? He could sense the strenuous look in Robin’s eyes. “Come sit here with me Robin?”, he called out in his feeble voice.. Robin hurriedly stepped up and slipped into the empty chair next to his father. “Yes Pa, anything urgent? I was just leaving for the office”, he blurted out.

“I am noticing since a few days, you are uncomfortable. Any problem in business??” As Robin shied away, “No Pa, all is ok!”, his father knew exactly that something was missing in the abrupt conversation and definitely something was wrong n business!

“Ok, rush along. I dont mean to delay you.”

“Lets have a drink today evening together alright? See you at 7”

“Sure Pa.”? Robin Hustled along and sat in his Merc to get as soon to office as possible where his entire team was waiting to brainstorm the huge huge problem at hand. The Company growth was down by 17% quarter by quarter and was plunging further. The meeting went till 5:30 in the evening and no concrete steps were produced.?

Just Patchwork to issues and Firefighting in already burnt areas.?

“Your father could handle these issues like a magician..” said the Peon who was now in the company for over 43 years.. As Robin stared at him, he left hurriedly and was out of the conference room in a jiffy. Everyone fell silent and the meeting was dispersed after discussing the minutes and recapping the next steps forward…

Robin was not satisfied. He didnt have anything against his father or his ways… he just wanted to “do it his way” and wanted to be incharge of his growth and his decisions. He had won every battle till now. How could he falter here!

He decided not to discuss anything with his father that evening and just give himself a break.?

7pm. His father was waiting by the poolside in his casual attire, a large bourbon in hand and a cigar in another. “How was the day Robin?”, and shifted his question almost immediately to “Single malt? Or Gin?” “Gin” said Robin, loosening his tie and throwing off the coat on the easy chair. “How was your day, Pa?”

As they returned glances, his father knew the answer to the question was not required. “Tell me Robin, what is it.?”?

Robin looked deep into his dads eyes… then broke down.. He told how competition had torn away their best customer, and how their other customers were leaving them slowly…. How the team was not able to satisfy them and keep them with the company.?

His father smiled.. You Know Robin, there is only one thing that keeps customers with you… .

“What?” said Robin.?

“The human touch.. The element of care..”

Robin was uncertain.. He thought what has this got to do with his situation; he had a fabulous team who took care and attention of each customer. They even went beyond the needful to give full attention to each customer. He waved the thought aside and remembered that he wanted this evening to be a break.. He wanted to spend some good time with his dad.. So they spoke about his childhood and how he was always a winner. And how he had gotten into Harvard… his dedication and strength to win. His father was more than proud of him! Of course he was.?

Later when Robin returned to his room.. He couldn't sleep. As he lay in his bed trying to, the words were floating in his head.. Winner / Strength / Proud dad / Care for the Customer / Human touch… it was all hazy… and he was restless. He knew something was clearly missing in his chain of thoughts! And he wanted to figure it out now.?

Suddenly it all became crystal clear to him!!!?

Today was not just a relaxed evening. !! Today was an “Advanced Course in Business” !

Something that Harward hadn't taught him.

He jumped up and grabbed his diary.?

Labelled the page “TODAY”!?(he did this whenever he had this light bulb realizations that he needed to keep reminding him daily)

He frantically wrote down all the points.?

1. Dad left the business to see me win!
2. Dad let me lead to make me a leader
3. The Human touch that went missing was DAD
4. Dad was the secret sauce of human touch which his customers wanted. Not discounts, not extra cheese on the plate! Dad used to connect 1-2-1 with each customer on human grounds and ask about their family and life… he would go past the business lines to help them where he could!
5. The Past has its role to play in the Future.?
6. You cannot disintegrate it and move ahead.

“Pa, I want you to come to the office with me from now on.” “I need your learnings” he texted him.?

“Sure, whatever you say Robin. I’ll be ready by 9.” came the reply.

What happened next is all clear. And this is a true story…?

So it brings us back to the “But what if the Future is incomplete without the Past??”?

So, are you leaving something in the past and moving to the new future…? We can talk about family values and love for our parents.. And there are infinite books on these.?

That is not the point here.?

The Point is… The past is also our legacy.?

Our old Clients;

Our old Business values;?

Our Ancestral Homes;?

Our Ancestral Assets…

Just like Robin’s Pa was an amazing Asset in Robins life and business growth… though he missed seeing the value initially, we also leave behind certain assets that could have catapulted us to the heights of our success.?

Lets workbook this here…. (do some fast Jotting down)

What are the assets that you have left behind… ? and are not looking at.?