Profession vs.Passion

Somebody once asked me a question. A particular job assigned to me does not fall in his responsibilities. Then how can he be expected to complete the assigned job?

This is a common question that arises in many people's mind. This takes me back to my IIPM days when I was a student of Management. I still remember the lecture on Effective and Efficient management styles by Dr. Joy Mitra. Most Managers tend to become efficient managers with a clear target ahead of them. The Targets are in numbers. They speak numbers, dream numbers. Their life revolves around numbers.

I have invested One crore on so and so property one would say and another such amount in shares & debenture portfolio. People listen to him and look at him. Some respect him. Some are envious. Some come out with suggestions on how to wisely invest etc., This person totally enjoys the attention.

I remember having seen some Short story on TV long back on Doordarshan played by Benjamin (if I recall correctly) and Neelima Azim. The Hero of the story is proud of his achievements and always talks about it. He is in love with this woman who meets him at the Lobby of a fivestar hotel. Suddenly a friend of his appears in the hotel lobby and enquires about him and the woman. The hero introduces his girl friend as a Journalist who came to interview him. Taking the cue the heroine starts asking him certain questions like his childhood passions etc., For every question his answer is the same. I worked hard and reached the present position. His friend in fact recalls certain incidents of their childhood but this hero does not. When the lady persists on finding answers for such questions as childhood pastimes, and hobbies the hero is dumbstuck and feels awkward. In the process of becoming successful in his profession he forgot even such beautiful childhood memories. In the end the balloons were shown flying in the air. Most percentage of people fall in this trap of getting conditioned. They never ask questions and review. They have a fixed formula and follow it. They call it meticulous working. But, somewhere down the line chasing the targets, they fall in the trap of getting completely conditioned and flow with stream.

The stories of Great Heroes who later became statesmen, and legends convey similar message. Whether it is Jesus, Adi shankara, Ramanuja, Prophet Mohammed, Galileo, Meerabai, William Wallace, Maharana Pratap, Mahatma Gandhi and innumberable such saints, politicians, Scientists the basic fundamental characther is not deviating from the Principles they have set for themselves.

If we go back in to history, billions of people have born and gone. But how many have made a mark? As our Ex-President Dr.Abdul Kalam says how many have left "their mark on the sands of history"?

In our society, why people are always afraid of taking the risk to become just more than efficient? Why every family member, every friend, every well wisher always advises to go slow and steady, to ensure that you have the arrangements and then think many times before you jump? Imagine if Dhirubhai did the same thing, could it be possible that the world would have known the Ambani family today?

Then why our society does not allow us to develop "passions" . We are always directed towards making a profession? Humanity needs Heroes, not cowards. Businessess need a completely Effective solutions only and Effective management style can provide. Efficiency is definitely a need but it must be combined with Effective style of management.