Hyperactivity

Yesterday we had Dean of Kellog School of Management, Mr. Dipak Jain, speaking to us. He was discussing on the Global Macro Trends. As a part of it he defined what is Hyper-Competition. Hyper-Competition according him is not about increasing competition but it is about competition from those beyond your industry boundaries.

How can one imagine that for an airline company competition is not another airline but it is the video conferencing technology. There is detailed logic behind this linking the consumer needs and how they chose alternatives without even telling you (service provider).

Similarly I have realized that there is something called Hyperactivity. Each of us look at what is happening in our life and think that there is lots of activity going on and get immersed into that. But while you are lost there so many other things are happening around that will impact you in a big way. You can either choose to stay aloof or try and recognize them and if possible understand/influence them.

Yesterday one of my well-wisher returned from abroad. It was his birthday and his wife wanted to give him a surprise. This person is a highly successful, mature, down-to-earth and pleasant person. His wife decided to get all the family, family friends and his friends whom she knew. I was surprised when I got an invite. When I went there I realized that the wife made elaborate arrangements. She organized a banner, she got some garlands, some flowers, and few bouquets. When he came out of the Airport and saw all this, he almost tried to run away from the scene to avoid the embarrassment. All the others at Airport were watching amusingly. Everyone sang the birthday song loudly and poured the garlands, flower petals and bouquets at him. He was definitely caught by surprise. But he was very happy to see all the people he would have wanted to meet. As she said all those who were there were his 1AM friends - when no one cares about you, these people care about you

When I look back at this, I can't stop appreciating the act of the wife. She made her husband the star of the day. For a long time to come he would remember this event.

In this hectic life where we want to maximize returns, minimize costs and optimize everything else, it is so difficult to take time out for some emotions and for making people around us feel good. Though I drove about 50kms I felt it was worth it and I would remember this event for a long time to come.

May God bless him and his family.