You moved my cheese

Securing 95% in class tenth and looking at my photo, printed in the newspaper made me feel on top of this world. Anyone who would call me up to congratulate and ask me ‘how did you do it’, I would brush it off by saying ‘nothing much ??’ (lol). With high spirits I entered eleventh grade and continued with my winning streak until my first job. Smooth and easy I would call it today. (happy in my REEL world, isn’t it!)

As I started my first job and entered into the REAL world, working with bright minds; every second person turned out to be nothing less than a rockstar. The reality started to strike. Contrary to once feeling like siting on the top of a pyramid, I could now see myself standing at the bottom of it. As the years rolled by, I worked under or alongside people much better than me in communication, networking, having a strong hold in their domain, more organized and meticulous, sharper, more understanding, better time managers and definitely those with more experience and wisdom that accompanied it. ?

In every job interview I would see a room full off eligible and talented candidates. After giving tens of interviews , I would clear one. Seeing this bottomless pit, I started to ask myself whether getting ranks in school and indulging in cut throat competition really worth it. Was sacrificing small and big things to get a percent higher every time really a sane thing to do ! Because marksheet now was only a piece of paper.

I have pondered upon it for a long time though I could never find a convincing answer. Until one fine day, the dots started to connect and I started to realize our certificates and awards are remembered on a piece of paper but the habits we develop from the very beginning and the type of people we surround ourselves with, goes a long way.

Those better than you will eventually bring you up to their level and your way of thinking will start to align. And the habits you develop will help you absorb every bit of that knowledge. Habit of putting in effort, not losing hope despite multiple rejections, having a thick skin to not lose hope during uncertainty, starting every time from scratch with a new vigor and faith are some of the long-term benefits, we reap. Looking at every situation from multiple perspectives, weighing their pros and cons so as to critically analyze it and then choosing the path that aligns with long-term goals cannot be learnt in a day, for you have to experiment with multiple things and every time you fail, it would grow into wisdom.

And these skills help come in handy when there are REAL problems to be solved – problems that involve conflict management, providing concrete solutions, bringing everyone on the same page, negotiating, innovating new ways of doing things in a simpler manner and upscaling yourself as per the industry’s ever evolving need.

Every time, I am able to find a good solution, I am reminded of those who moved my cheese, for the better !!

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