Be Flexible, Be Happy
Over several decades, I have realized that the path to success and happiness must go through the prism of flexibility. If I see myself, I was one of the few to choose a college in a far away region with a different culture and language than what I belonged. My four years there gave me wealth of experience and lasting friendships. Moreover it helped me learn new culture that is helping me even after several decades. Most of my friends compromised with their college, as they wanted to be near their homes and were not flexible enough to get better college.
The next move started with my job that again was in a place with different culture and language. My rich experience and learning simply multiplied which my colleagues missed who were not flexible and ready to take a tougher call. Similarly, it was during my job and my work and almost everywhere. Flexibility helped me earn friends, get me opportunities and the most important, the rich experience which cannot be purchased at any cost.
One such example of flexibility happened while I was working as a process engineer in a large manufacturing company. While my work called for only writing time sheets based on the experience of workmen, my boss always told me to take a tougher path. He said that the right way to write a process sheet is to go through the process yourself several times and perfect the time and method of executing it. Only then, one should write the process sheet, as it would bring the right knowledge in the document.
I followed him in words and spirit, unlike most of the process engineers. In just one year the difference was clear. I not only ended up learning most of the machine operation, but also earned deep respect from the workers who always came to me for clarification. This resulted in my promotions and new opportunities. I was promoted to take care of writing MML (Man Machine Language) for the new computer numerical controlled machines. That technology was very new that time and the training of these machines opened the gates for me to enter into the world of programming and technology.
Flexibility is equally important in our personal lives where relationship bloom only when we remain open and flexible. I have seen happy people are highly flexible in their personal lives.
Most of my colleagues were less flexible and continue to be so. Flexibility on roles to salaries offered to company and even the working time makes it look that most of us negotiate on the most important element of success ‘Change’.
Let us be flexible and embrace and lead change.
