LinkedIn Citizens Who Can Be Movie Titles

 

Almost Famous – The ones who humblebrag their badge of honor or newly achieved certificate every other hour spent on LinkedIn. They will always be almost famous!

 

Slumdog Millionaire – The ones who have rags to riches story to share and that has a potential for another rehash of a been there done with that Hollywood movie.

 

12 Angry Men – They are arm-chair critics who may not have a single worthy post to share but get immense pleasure in jumping to conclusions and harshly judging others' achievements or attacking naïve LinkedIn posts.

 

Vertigo – They are that rare breed whose meteoric rise on the career ladder is so heady, it can give an attack of vertigo.

 

Django Unchained – These are the swashbuckling cowboys who aggressively promote their organization and its products every day (even if it is a lame product/offer). Just short of getting the company name tattooed on their heart which rests on their sleeve.

 

Miss Congeniality – Her posts are about encouragement and motivation and stories about kindness, courage, and empathy. Their posts make you let out a deep sigh, make you teary-eyed and melt your heart.

 

The Pursuit of Happyness – These are the glass-half-full type of people who are hopeless optimists even in the face of adversity. Despite personal setbacks and challenges, they share utopian posts that can make even super-achievers doubt themselves.

 

Hidden Figures – With diversity being the darling of the season and possibly many more seasons in the future (and rightly so!), these LinkedIn users have found their niche. They won't stop posting about the hidden figures till the cows come home.

 

Jurassic Park – There are few early adopters out there who make you feel like a relic. Their posts are everything about the newest and the latest in technology space. Their posts spew cutting-edge topics and reading them makes you feel like a stunted shrub living under a rock inside Jurassic Park.

 

Avatar – These LinkedIn citizens are out there to make a difference but to their own Avatar. They want to save humanity from the clutches of climate change, pollution, overpopulation, hunger crisis, lack of education, corruption, and many global issues with their posts. Yes, just their posts. These are the armchair activists of the LinkedIn world.

 

The Return of the Living Dead

They were invisible on LinkedIn, but certain compulsions have made them go ballistic in recent times. Possibly, the merits of being active on LinkedIn have just dawned upon them.

 

The Social Network

They are the overtly obliging ones who are commenting on other’s posts “for better reach”. In a covert way, they are expecting the same return of favour.

 

Up in The Air

These citizens (or foreigners) were quite active in pre-Pandemic times, posting about their event appearances, achievements, and professional bravado gallantly struck across different countries/ continents. In recent times, this breed has vanished in thin air.

Image source: Pixabay

Fluid - A Poem

The times have changed, and how!

To nature’s bounty and fury, we now sincerely bow!

The seasons as we knew then and now

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, I avow!

A thin line between work and play

Our life is how we mold the day

Nothing is black and white but all gray

Life, as we know, is more fluid today!

They say necessity is the mother of invention

In tough times a need for a new dimension

It’s time to find solutions through collaboration

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, with no exception!

When he/she/they gender pronouns matter

Nothing is what it seems on a platter

When all your earlier impressions scatter

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, and it’s no idle chatter!

How we do business today has changed

Brick and mortar to e-commerce, interchanged

A wave of digitalization unchained

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, unstrained!

School and office buildings have become redundant!

And yet the work gets done by the incumbent

Being self-reliant and yet interdependent

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, a judgment not indulgent!

Less is more, and minimalism is indeed the new maxim

What was indispensable has gone through many subtractions

While true essentials of today cost us a fraction

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, no retraction!

In the pandemic, the mask may have covered the ground

In truth, it laid bare our relationships and trust, unbound

No matter what, love and empathy stand finally crowned

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, I strongly propound!

But who knows what’s in store for us in the future?

As travelers in a time capsule, as actors, and as viewers

Adapt, adjust, hang in there, play our part, and maneuver

Life, as we know, is more fluid today and tomorrow, another adventure!

Mind over Matter!

A few days back I had gone to see a skin specialist because of an itch. Well, it started with just an innocuous scratchy feeling on my leg; to which I didn't pay much attention to, thinking it will go away soon. However, a week passed by but the itchy sensation did not show any signs of letting up. The more I scratched, the more it seemed to be developing in to a ugly witch..oops itch.
Through out that week, every evening after work, I kept on airing my itchy woes to A. Making light of the situation made me feel a little better or so I thought. But even after a week when the itch refused to die down and instead started growing, we knew there was a glitch. We realized that it was time to ditch the 'ignorance is bliss' state and pitch my woes to a skin doc at the earliest.

Finally, there I was, sitting with the doc and providing her with my irritable 'under the skin' experience of the last one week. It was a total derma drama unfolding in her cabin, where I was just short of going down on my knees and pleading her to 'save my skin'.
She patiently heard me out, took a long look at the reddish patch on my leg and proclaimed with an air of 'thick skin', "Hmmm... well, this is nothing but a simple case of a dry-skin situation. After the age of 35, our oil glands beneath the skin start to deplete. These are the same glands which keep our skin moisturized and healthy. But when they deplete, they make our skin dry and hence the itchy feeling."

Wow, I could not believe my ears on this scin-tillating revelation. Just a case of dry skin, this was good news to my ears!

Then came another discovery. She asked me, what time of the day did I normally get the itchy feeling. I told her that every evening when I was home, back from work, invariably I would start getting the itchy sensation.
Then she revealed to me as a matter of fact, that the itch seemed to be more prominent and perceptible in the evening because my mind at that time of the day, was more relaxed and free of any preoccupations. At office, it's engaged in work matters, busy thinking, stressed, providing instructions to self and hence does not even acknowledge the itch. It is completely ignored, as if it is not there at all. As simple as that!

Within ten minutes she was scribbling down my prescription note. A medicated cream and allergy tablets to be taken for a week, that's it and I was packed off!

Back home, I was reflecting on what was just revealed to me. The itch even though it existed through the day, but felt only in the evening. This is so because the mind, during the day is preoccupied and busy. And only in the evening when it's relaxed, acknowledges the existence of the itch. And the more I thought about the itch, more I am tempted to scratch the skin and further aggravate the situation.

Then I suddenly remembered the 'Placebo effect' frequently used in the medical world. It is a remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo -- a fake treatment, an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution -- can sometimes improve a patient's condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful. Expectation plays a potent role in the placebo effect. The more a person believes they are going to benefit from a treatment, the more likely it is that they will experience a benefit.


I was just looking at both the scenarios. In both, the mind plays a very important role in  making us feel better; whether in my situation wherein my mind was too busy to acknowledge the itch (during the day) or the case of placebo effect, where the mind has positive expectations and believes that the offered treatment will be beneficial to self.


As I was reflecting on this not so new or eye popping discovery, my thoughts took me to yet another truth in life. And I have discussed this with my friends who have a similar experience as well. So many times have we in the past, wanted some good things to manifest in life whether for us, or family or friends. We had thought about them strongly and then never thought about it again. Until of course they actually became true!
All this happened because the thoughts then prompted us to take certain persistent actions which eventually led us to our ultimate aim or goal which we had wished for so strongly.

In a nutshell, all these were manifestations of nothing but our mind! Whether in the first case where my mind was so busy in the day that it did not acknowledge the existence of the itch or the Placebo effect when the mind chooses to believe that the medicine will cure or provide relief and it does or when our mind strongly wishes for something to happen and it truly manifests in life. In all these cases, it's our mind which is the window to our reality.

Moral of the story:
Whatever the mind can conceive, and believe, the mind can achieve!

It is no wonder that Gurus of the Corporate and Spiritual world, acknowledge GRIT as the number one factor for a person's success. Grit that which is not physical prowess, knowledge or experience oriented but derived from inner mental strength.

Someone smart said, "Gritty people believe, everything will be alright in the end, and if it is not alright, it is not the end.”

Note: Grit - Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual's passion for a particular long-term goal or endstate, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective.

A Window of Opportunity!

A couple of months back, our office had gone to Bangalore for an Outbound Training & Team building program. The time they announced this program, my mind wanted to do cartwheels and also sulk in a corner at the same time.

Well, you see, I literally jump at things that provide me insights on, "How to become a better you?", "How to tap your inner strength?", "How to find work-life balance?" type of programs. So there was a side of me who was excited and hopping like a little girl. The other side, which is the over apprehensive adult inside me, was troubled with some questions bobbing in my mind. "Do we need another training or team building program?", "If yes, why?", "Are we failing as a team?", "Did we as a team require external intervention to be better at what we do?”. I just packed these and many similar questions, in a little nook at the back of my mind, hoping that I would not have to retrieve this baggage.

I must tell you that before the visit, we were told that the trainers (organizers) were the best in the business, with many years of experience and had catered to the who's who in the corporate world. I had also read on their website a few glowing testimonials and appreciation from top notch brands.

This was all good. But the only worrying factor amongst all of us colleagues though, was the Spartan environment we were expected to stay in during the training program. Accommodation in tents with no attached bathrooms (eew!), getting up in the wee hours of morning (yawn), fixed schedule for meals, fixed slots for free time (sigh!). Also, no usage of cell phones (really!),  no Internet access (oh no!) and no non-vegetarian meals too. At this, I did hear a collection of long sighs from my carnivorous colleagues. Come to think of it, there were definitely going to be some tough days ahead of us, soon.

A boot-camp to boot!...Bring it on, I said, rather tepidly.

Finally the date arrived and we embarked on this journey full of apprehension and concerns. Concerns because we were dreading to know how the group was going to survive without our urban trappings, without our gadgets and gizmos. Most importantly, without Internet – synonymous in today’s times as the air that we breathe!

And then just like that, the much anticipated four days too went by rather hurriedly. Unexpectedly for us, we survived (like all previous inhabitants) the training and also the discomfort of being cut away from ‘civilization’. Some of us did not just scrape through but we even immersed ourselves uninhibitedly in this program. We welcomed with open embrace, the quietude and the stillness; waking up to the coos of nature, and quietly attempting to understand our true self; reflecting on our past actions and contemplating on present moments; every day of the four days.

This program which was expected to be a rigorous outing turned out to be a delightful inward journey. And all this was executed through a series of team exercises, role plays, creative activities and even a arduous hike thrown in, to a nearby hill. Many new concepts were introduced and a few old concepts were revisited. In a nutshell, the various activities we went through, assessed our mental strength, challenged our physical prowess, tested the depth of our emotional pool, and gauged the intensity of our interpersonal relationships.

Amongst all these however, there was one concept which has stayed with me even after two months. It is the ‘Johari Window’. Luft and Ingham called their Johari Window model 'Johari' after combining their first names, Joe and Harry. Some of us have either learned it in college or read about it as a piece of general knowledge. As for me, though I was exposed to it in college,  I just ‘understood’ the concept only for a brief period. After the exams, it met the same fate like all other theories, tools and concepts. Out of the window!

Now it occurs to me that this simple tool and model is even more relevant than ever before. Given the importance of 'soft' skills, empathy, and interpersonal development, it helps in improving self-awareness, communications and mutual understanding between individuals within a group. This tool can be applied to Employee-Employer relationship, between members of the same team and according to me even Husband-Wife relationship.

Johari window four regions

1. what is known by the person about him/herself and is also known by others - open area, open self, free area, free self, or 'the arena'
2. what is unknown by the person about him/herself but which others know - blind area, blind self, or 'blindspot'
3. what the person knows about him/herself that others do not know - hidden area, hidden self, avoided area, avoided self or 'facade'
4. what is unknown by the person about him/herself and is also unknown by others - unknown area or unknown self

Each of these areas were brought out by the trainer through examples which made our learning even more insightful and memorable.

The tool tries to tell us is that bigger the open area we have, we are at our most effective and productive. The open free area, or 'the arena', can be seen as the space where good communications and cooperation occur, free from distractions, mistrust, confusion, conflict and misunderstanding.

In case, the Open area is not big, we can through a process of self-discovery ( for e.g. taking actions/risks we have been avoiding to take), soliciting feedback (provided we are open to receiving it) and process of self-disclosure (for e.g. by telling others how we feel) reduce the Unknown area, Blind spot area and Hidden area respectively.

Revisiting this concept not only opened my eyes to an old concept but I was now looking at my colleagues with a new and healthy perspective. A lot of baggage that I carried for a long time was thrown away thus reducing the hidden area. A lot of objective feedback was provided to my colleagues and also received by me thus reducing the area of blind spots. And lastly, thanks to the unique activities like role-plays we had done, led to a process of self discovery for me.

In a nutshell, this is one ‘window of opportunity’ which needs to be opened wide by each and every one of us. It is not just a theory or concept but something which one can practice in everyday life. It not just helps in improving self awareness but also creating better interpersonal relationships.

For more details on Johari Window, do click here http://www.businessballs.com/johariwindowmodel.htm

A new day, a new year, a new realization!

For many days that rolled into months, we had a 'work of art' nurturing at home. We ignored it like we would a messy crayon drawing by a little child. Thinking, if we didn't pay heed, it would stop craving for undeserved attention. However, it was not to be. This piece of art, which was till now successfully obscured by its uncertain future, suddenly started making its ugly presence felt. We didn't realize it was capable of creeping up on our neighbors, too, and 'keeping them awake' with its creative outbursts.

That which was privy to only both (hubby and me) of us till now had suddenly started getting attention far and wide. It was out there for everyone to see, just like an object d árt in an art gallery. Only, in this case, our neighbors would come visiting at odd hours, check the 'work of art,' give their vociferous feedback, and leave fuming. It somehow had a way of bringing out the emotions even amongst those who are typically unperturbed people. What's more, we had them come back repeatedly as they could not 'rave' enough about it.

As you must have realized by now, the 'art piece' was nothing to be proud of but the handiwork of a leaky pipe in our bathroom. We figured out (though late) that this artwork had indeed amassed a vast area and unexpected attention. In short, inversely proportional to the time we had spent in 'looking' at it (or into it).

But now enough was enough!

We finally decided to go to the 'he-art' of the matter and identify the problem.

I must say that this experience of a few months has left us a little wiser. Like leaky pipes, we need to fix many leakages in our career, health, money, and relationships. Here are a few learnings which I derived from this experience.

Leakage problems can be very tricky. We think we know the source of the issue, but only when the plumber breaks and opens up the facade, we realize that we have been barking up the wrong wall. The problem is somewhere else altogether. In career, health, money, and relationships, we need to go to the root of the issue and address it. Simple and quick-fix solutions will not always work.

It is essential to identify the cause of the problem at the earliest. Once identified, nip it in the bud and address it immediately. Or else, the problem can fester and then lead to minor scrapes, then cracks, and eventually a shaky foundation - just like in life.

What may appear like a small issue on the surface may have grave and major issues running deep down.

Personal issues can remain private only if given the desired attention at the right time. If not worked on at the right time, then it has the strength to become a spectacle for all to see and comment upon.

If we can't solve problems on our own, seek external help, especially from those who are experienced, wiser, and skilled in that particular area. It's good to get a specialist involved, and moreover, a different perspective does help sometimes.

I am happy to announce that the leakage in our bathroom is now a 'closed' issue. Thanks to Munnabhai, our Dr. Fix It for all seasons (no, I didn't make up his name. He is for real), it is now a 'water-tight' case!

I have said my goodbyes to mildewed walls, damp ceilings, and hideous 'artworks.'

Ready to start on a clean slate and looking forward to creating real works of art in the days ahead.

Here's to new lessons and new realizations!

Being 40!

A spectrum of emotions as baggage, I embark on this journey of introspection,
a feeling of accomplishment and yet many things still undone much to my dissatisfaction.
Been there done that many times and yet to cross the finishing line,
a mixed bag of opportunities life has been so far, often going with the flow & sometimes by design.

When slowing down does not mean a sign of weakness, a new realization has dawned.
Acceptance and moving on, brings a sense of peace, as someone wise said, "This too shall pass."

"This world is just a theater", Shakespeare had philosophically said,
where each one is destined to play a certain part and address.
Yet attempting to write my own script & become the hero, I can look into the mirror squarely and face.

Besides a theater, this world makes a unique market place.
Where now I realize, giving back more than receiving is even more fulfilling and meaningful
in many more ways.

Better late than never is what describes best the present state of mind.
Retrospect and taking stock of what has been right and the rest leave behind.

Living in the moment and enjoying as if this would be (God forbid!) my last day,
many things yet to accomplish, Lord give me wisdom and strength to sustain, I pray.

Midlife is the best place to be unlike what many people say,
wiser from the many experiences of what has been and what could be possible is a hope, I continue to embrace.

When slow is good!

Living in big cities like Mumbai can be tough. Its like running on a treadmill except that this one doesn't ever stop. Busy lives are running through it every day at a frenetic pace...pushing, jostling, brushing, sliding, hopping, racing... it's a crazy routine 24/7. The only time when we probably slow down is to catch our breath but only to get back  to our relay race. Hoping we will find someone to pass our baton to...but alas it doesn't happen!
Right from early morning when the right palm slams down heavily on the alarm clock as if reprimanding it to shut up, its just one action mode all the way - Run, Run, Run!!!
Indeed, we live in a time where the Law of this (concrete) jungle has truly become - "Survival of the fastest." We are so obsessed with speed and getting things done 'right now' that anyone slower than us is looked down and frowned upon as a weakling. We no longer recognize patience as a virtue. In fact I would think its kind of become passe. The ad taglines very befittingly mirror our new attitudes. Take the case of Pepsi's ad campaign. In its efforts to woo the youth it proclaims Oh yes, Abhi! effectively echoing the values of the 'I want it it now!' generation.

The last two decades, what with a slew of break through in technology have truly been a super fast ride on the information highway and everything else cruising along with it.
Be it fast food, instant coffee, 2 minute noodles, instant gratification, fast 'friends' (yes they do change very often these days), tatkal passport, fast track visa, jaldi loans, speed dating, instant messaging, quick fixes, speed delivery, instant blood check, ready to eat recipes, speed dial, now or never offers, instant glue,  instant recharge and even the movie Fast and Furious has now moved into its 6th edition. A sign of times indeed!

I would be blatantly lying if I didn't agree that all the above have made my life more comfortable. And I am genuinely happy for their existence. They have simplified our lives and help focus on more important issues in the scheme of things.

However, in spite of all the suitable hype around all these being useful, apt and convenient, I some times wonder what the hell happened to the good old maxim 'Slow and steady wins the race' and what happened to the sensible tortoise which we so lovingly embodied during our school days. Sadly, looks like the story's end has changed somehow over the years. It appears that the carefree or rather careless hare of earlier years has now become the new hero of the current generation and tortoise is the nice guy who finishes last.
I secretly hope not though.
For all that our lifestyles have turned out to be with the changing times I still am a fool for the old fashioned trappings.
Somehow there are but some things in life which will always remain either useful, appropriate, advantageous, pertinent or even charming because of their slowness. Without their slow effects they may just cease to exist. Here are some which are slow and have rock steadily been in existence till now.

1. Yoga - Slow but powerful!
2. Ayurvedic medicines - Slow but very effective!
3. Slow eating/cooking - Very healthy!
4. Slow dance/music - Romantic ofcourse!
5. Talking slowly (which means, thinking and talking) - A sign of intelligence!
6. Dheere dheere/holay holay wala pyaar - Again romantic!
7. Creating Indian handicrafts - It takes painstaking efforts and long time to bring it to life but oh so beautiful is each piece
8. Building meaningful relationships - Slowly but for life!
9. Chivalry- Gently slow but oh so charming
10. Slow vacations - No sightseeing, shopping but relaxing and only relaxing!
11. Climbing steps (and not taking lift)- Again healthy
12. Growing and nurturing plants - Slow process but brings great joy
13. TLC - Tender Loving Care...whether kids, old parents, spouse, or anyone you care for. Slow and gentle but always works
14. Book reading - Aah, the pleasures are many.
15. Fishing - Yes, definitely slow but eventually rewarding (most times)
16. Sitting in a temple/mosque/church - Brings peace
17. Walking habit - as against riding in a car. Definitely healthy and therapeutic
18. Art of Breathing/ Pranayam - Focusing on our breath. A slow process but is beneficial for lifelong.

All of them are slow in nature but derive amazing benefits for us. And not surprisingly, they don't require technology at all.
For me slow and steady definitely wins the race. If not today, eventually it will! Because it's not about the destination, its the journey that matters most!

Seriously, not kidding!

The summer has been extremely unkind so far. Never has been the Mumbai heat so dehydrating and torturous as this year. To add to our sweltering woes, we (as in Ashish my hubby and me) have absolutely no escape plans to retreat from the heat of this summer. But hey, inspite of the situation and right in the midst of this unbecoming weather, we both (ashish and me)have a broad grin on our face since past few days. Grin which sometimes dissolves into hearty peals of laughter, on few ocassions leads to tears (of joy)strolling down our cheeks and other times complete bewilderment.

Confused?...Ask me why?

Like a fresh breeze of cool mint air, my niece has wafted into our lives to provide us just  the refreshing relief we were yearning for badly these past few weeks.
Though she is here only for couple of weeks to spend her summer holidays with her aajju (her grand mom) and aajja (her grandpa), I have not been able to contain (ironically) my childlike excitement since the time she has arrived. Her presence amongst us has not just enlivened and rejuvenated us into new beings but also every moment we spend with her is entertainment and freshness personified.

Like any other child her age, she is full of joie de vivre, with abundant energy and with a extra spring in her hurried steps. She talks nineteen to the dozen and regales us with her delightful puneri phrases (yes, she lives in Pune) and anecdotes. She is full of (camera worthy) expressions and dramebaazi. Never runs out of questions and counter questions. Keeps us on our toes and some times brings us to our knees. She is the energiser bunny, a stand up comedian, observant sherlock holmes, a demure barbie fan, mischievous elf,  and a very curious cat all characters rolled into one.
Ok, so that's my niece for you in a nutshell. And I am sure other kids her age would also show the same characteristics with a few plusses and minuses.

So what am I trying to say here!

This young girl within a short span of few days that she has spent with us has helped us to relearn a lot which we had left behind many years back. This blog post is all about what we secretly imbibed from our little niece when we were overtly reveling in her joyful company.

Below are those 8 virtues we realised we had forgotten as adults :

1. Pristine innocence tinged with naughtiness
2. Keen observation
3. Ability to forget the past (more so the negative)
4. Unbridled energy
5. Contentment in life's simple pleasures
6. Straightforward as an arrow
7. Curious as a cat
8. Fearlessness

If you look at all the above qualities, isn't it what we all yearn for and seek as adults. Its incredible that we sometimes don't have to read books, watch videos or look further for inspiration. The kids can be our best teachers and icons .
Seriously, not kidding!

My Life....My Project!

In the flurry of everyday activities, we sometimes forget to pause, think and retrospect. We get so involved in the nitty-gritty of the daily soap of our life that we forget to look at our life in 70 mm format. The big picture, as they say, eludes us for not lack of our long-term vision but because we refuse to look at it squarely even when it's up so close.
We are too busy looking down at the map on our lap while we miss the big bold signs that pass us by on the expressway of our life.
Sometimes a few solitary moments do help to look at our life more objectively. One doesn't always have to read a Paulo Coelho or Rhonda Byrne's book or watch the likes of Robin Sharma or Deepak Chopra's or even TED videos on YouTube to know what life is all about. Sometimes (I would say, most times) the greatest insights happen from within and yes, at unexpected times.

True, the self-help books are great, and I do read them too, for inspiration and direction. But all said and done, if you ask me, how many times have I found a 'new & improved' me after reading an inspirational book? My answer will be zilch.

In Marathi language (my mother tongue) we have a saying 'Kaltay, pan valat nahi', which means, 'We know what's right for us, but, we still don't change our attitude, or take an initiative/ necessary action.' That is exactly what happens with most of us (I will say, my ilk).
Unless we put it in action (practice regularly), there will be no real learning, and we all know that very well.

Our inner voice, gut feeling or intuition whatever we may like to call it, provide the best insights when we are least looking for it. So today when I was enjoying the rare luxury of quietness around the house with no TV, music, laptop or a book in my lap....and just looking out of the window into nothingness....there it was! It was such an 'Aha' moment. It felt like the gray clouds had disappeared suddenly into nothingness, the sun had decided to peep out shining bright on the stage of my life ahead. It was as if I was sitting by the window watching the play unfold, one act at a time. It was a sudden realization, a meaningful thought which I felt like penning down. And so here it is!

The name of this blog post -My Life. My project!
So let me begin with putting down the definition of  the word 'Project':
A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result, with a defined beginning and end, and therefore defined scope and resources.

Source: http://www.pmi.org/About-Us/About-Us-What-is-Project-Management.aspx )

For example, a project could be as simple as organizing a birthday party or relocating from one city to another or planning a holiday. Or it could be a slightly more challenging project like a wedding in the family or launching a new product in a company. Even more critical project example would be building an airport, acquisition of a business or launching a rocket in space. In essence, all these are projects.

I am stretching this now even further and calling my life, my project.

·       Is it temporary - Yes! (Life is indeed brief whether it’s for months, years or decades, we are all going to leave mother earth one day)

• Does it have a beginning and end – Yes, of course! 

• Is it Time-constrained - Yes, again and who knows it better than us human beings

• Is it constrained by funding or resources – Yes! (Most of us never seem to have enough money or we are never satisfied even when we have enough)

• Are we trying to meet unique goals and objectives - Each of us is born with a unique purpose which we need to discover on our own. Some find it early, some late, some just don't get it while others have yet to start looking.

• Do we create a unique product, service or result - Most of us would like to create something unique, of great value, or bring about some positive change in our lives as well as of those around us.

All these similarities  establishes my point as to why I am going to treat my life as a project henceforth and try to manage it like smart, disciplined and efficient project leaders do.

But of course, thanks to all the self-help books I have read in the past, I can't but help include some learnings here which are also part of me and my sub-conscious mind.

'Life' as a Project and Thirteen lessons I must remember to effectively manage it.

Lesson 1
- Begin with end in mind
What would I like my epitaph to read? Or 'Who will cry when I die? (lines inspired by Stephen Covey's book '7 Habits of Highly Effective People' and Robin Sharma's book by the same name, respectively). These will totally decide how I want to lead my life or which direction I want to follow. It brings a lot of clarity, provides a purpose and guidance on how I should lead my life going forward.

Lesson 2
- Plan the work, work the plan
Not carry forward 'Things to do' points for the next day or next week. Try to finish the tasks same day, week or same month as planned.

Lesson 3
- Have Plan B or even Plan C
We all are aware and have many times experienced the familiar phenomena of 'Man proposes, God disposes'. It’s always good to be ready with a backup plan/s for a 'What if?' scenario. And thus, avoid disappointments if the original plan fails.

Lesson 4

- Create smaller milestones

For long and complicated initiatives, break it down into smaller tasks for easy follow ups and to measure if the planned activities are on schedule. Take corrective action in case they are not. It is important to keep measurable milestones to keep track of the speed, quality and direction in which the initiatives are heading.

Lesson 5
- Put First things first (another one inspired from '7 Habits...')
Resources are always limited, whether time, money or energy.
So use it effectively for tasks which are of high priority and that have a maximum positive impact and not get lost in smaller, inconsequential activities.

Lesson 6
- Create win-win situations for all project stakeholders. In my life, the relevant stakeholders are my hubby, family members, office colleagues, friends, neighbors in the immediate environment and community as a whole. Here transparency and clear communication become vital to ensure that all are on the same page regards issues concerning me and them.

So also, empathy, understanding and respect, as we are not just dealing with professional entities but with personal stakeholders as well.
We all have heard of projects getting stalled because the stakeholders were not happy or disapproved of it. Hence, always involve interested parties in the decision-making process, listen to their voices, get their buy-in and then move forward in a direction which is most suitable for all and importantly the end objective. Not always does everyone have the same viewpoint. But at the same time it is important to maintain healthy relationships with important stakeholders. We need to understand how to strike the right balance.

Lesson 7
- No Failure, Only Feedback
Another of my favorite is that Failure is only Feedback, so accept failure as a learning and not a setback. But try not to make the same mistake again to get a better or satisfactory result in future.
Also, there will always be situations where we don't get the expectant result, but we should take comfort that we, at least, tried hard and not feel disheartened. The only things in our hand are how we respond to the result so if things don’t go as planned,  immediately get back on track as there are many other things to do. No point in moping over, what has happened in the past and can’t be corrected.

Lesson 8
 - Keep learning and keep mind fresh, alert and active
Whether it's a new hobby, interest, new courses to stay updated or any creative pursuits, one must upgrade skills always. Or even travel to a new destination every year (or even 6 months) because to travel is to take a journey into our self.

Lesson 9
- Besides mental fitness it is also important to being physically fit as this journey or project called life sometimes takes many years (thankfully!) to complete and we have to withstand many storms and weathers on the way. Whether it’s a long walk or a yoga session (which I prefer) or hitting the gym, running or dancing which others may prefer, need to keep aside an hour every day for physical fitness.

Lesson 10
- Laughter is the best medicine
Always, always, always keep humor intact. Many studies have proven the health benefits of a good laugh, so I promise myself not to lose it. Even in tough times, I will try to see the lighter side.
The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow, a very famous quote by H G Wells sums it up so well. Tough to follow but not impossible.

Lesson 11
- Integrity

While we go about dealing with life’s ups and downs, it is imperative to do it with integrity and honesty. As no matter how successful one becomes in life, what is more important is the journey (how we reached?) rather than the destination itself. Nothing is more important than being true to yourself and others.

Lesson 12

-Total responsibility

I am solely responsible for my life as it’s project manager. I will not blame destiny, or luck, or anyone else for how my life turns out. Whether failure or success or any status quo, it is completely my responsibility. I am also totally responsible for the responses and actions I take in my life,  as eventually it’s my choice.

Lesson 13

-Focus

Whatever I do, I will do it with complete focus.

If I am with someone, I will only be focused on that conversation fully. If I am reading a book/newspaper, it will only be the book and me, not turning pages when I am having breakfast or lunch. When I am on phone with my parents, my attention will only be focused on them and not on the keyboard as I am typing on the laptop.When I am in meetings, I will not get distracted by the constant beeping on the cell phone. 

I have realized over a period of time that nothing gives me more joy than being completely immersed in that moment. And truly, how simple and basic is that to follow!

These are the 13 lessons I plan to imbibe going forward and keep coming back to (till they become internalized), for managing My Life, My Project!