When do we change and why?

At the helm of perhaps one of tech industry’s greatest turnaround is an Indian, Satya Nadella of Microsoft. His recipe for reinvigorating the company from a Windows-centric one to that which provides a range of online services to companies and individuals is watched by other industry behemoths like HP, Cisco, and IBM to name a few. Most of these long-standing companies are either undergoing similarly wrenching changes or are attempting to reinvent themselves. Microsoft has untethered itself from the conventional windows only strategy to embracing open-source. They better. The competences and behaviours that revolved around desktops or an array of computers at the basement, which primarily fuelled growth of these companies have suddenly paved way to apps that can be activated with a tap on the mobile. The biggies seem to have been caught in a time warp. 

The thought of these biggies struggling to get a grip on the market they once ruled was a bit unsettling for me. As professionals, what if we have to confront such sudden volatility in our career?  Well, not that Microsoft didn’t know of the imminent market challenges. And, not that as professionals we don’t know about the lurking and potentially career-altering changes. What’s alarming about such a change is that even if we know about it, having firmly entrenched ourselves in a certain comfort zone, we might not be able to embrace it with the agility that it demands. Remember, Microsoft had once considered open source an anathema. Similar to how companies steer investments to initiatives that offer the most tangible and immediate returns, and shortchange investments crucial to their long-term strategies, we also have to channelize our time, talent, and energy. This however needs to be done basis one of the most fundamental requirements – a purpose in life.

While the industry and its long-standing incumbents undergo a tectonic shift, there is one thing that doesn’t change. It is the purpose of these companies. For instance, irrespective of the changes, Microsoft will continue to create technology that is accessible to everyone. And, the company will do it by even cutting deals with rivals. Example – users of online version of Office can save their files on servers of Box, a cloud-storage firm. Who can forget that Office is now available on Android and Apple mobiles? Like the companies, our purpose can be spread or fortified only when we have a humble eagerness to learn something from everybody and when we help others build or promote their purpose.

It is quite a task but as the established companies have found, it is definitely not about building individual prominence but about the manifold individuals that we have helped. 

Personal views

Giving Is Not For Adults

'You know what we got for Akshay's birthday?' asked my daughter to her brother while walking home from the day care. She was holding a chocolate cake. 'Don't worry, we will share it once home, ok?' she reassured as he stared at the chocolate-oozing cake. I was mightily impressed hearing this from the four year old. It occurred to me then that this was a result of my wife repeatedly emphasizing the need for them to share with each other whatever they received. All parents do. 

That was two years back.

After my recent Facebook post on 'giving,' I quickly checked with people around me about 'giving' and how, what, and when they would. All I got was diplomatic responses. Most said it depends on the situation. It is apparent. As adults, we tend to overlook what others would want, expect or like. We get conditioned into carrying out what we want. After all, we want to let others know how ambitious we are and so we'd rather focus on how fast we can climb the ladder of success. And, the thought of giving gets relegated - for another time - when we have enough time.

I came across 'the power of giving,' where the authors had this to say : Souls are like athletes who need opponents worthy of them if they are to be tried and extended and pushed to the full use of their powers. That’s an insightful analogy, for just as your muscles weaken without physical exercise, so does your soul weaken without its special kinds of exercise. A great exercise for your soul is the practice of giving. As with physical exercise, the more you do it, the easier it is, and the stronger you will become. Can we exercise our souls?