The word...
Princess September | 6 May 2010, 3:31am
I always wonder - if heros are idolised a little too much. While that may be so, there really is a hero in every one of us. It's that distinct quality that each of us have that no one else in the universe can replicate. Most of us don't understand that we have distinct advantages. More importantly, we don't value them.
MY WORD - Swaran Sehgal, CEO of Lotus, an amazing transformation trainer, brought to my attention the importance of 'MY WORD'. What he said is very close to meeting commitments of course. But that's not all. So often, words leave our tongue that we do not mean and wish to take back.
Many many people give a word - to be at the intended place on time, a promise to attend a friend or family member's wedding, to send a file your colleague needs, to respond to an email... promises. Empty promises, emptier words. Why is it that people no longer rely on the word? Today there are contracts - contracts between two parties on terms of trade, contract between employee and employer, contract for non-disclosure, contract to abide by code of ethics - there is a signed black and white contract for everything. Irony - that we now rely on contracts, we don't have faith in people or their words. Even more ironical that these contracts are in most cases not enforceable in a court of law and if they were to be, the time and cost of seeking justice is prohibitive. Yet, we rely on contracts. Do we have a choice? We believe that instilling fear, will get desired results. :)
And yes, there are many implicit words that we give - our politicians give a word to - to defend law and order, to protect the state...., the ancient Hippocratic oath of doctors that 'they will do no harm' and 'in every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing'... when we buy a car, we will safeguard community roads in using the car... the list of such unsaid words is end less. Yet, we do not acknowledge them.
The Word, from ancient hindu mythological times has a lot of importance.
I read this snippet about Sachin Tendulkar. And i realised, this is his one quality that makes him a hero. Sachin Tendulkar's dedication to his WORD.In 2004, India versus Australia, Brad Hogg took Sachin Tendulkar's wicket. At the end of the match, Brad Hogg gave the ball to Sachin for his autograph. Sachin wrote, "It will never happen again" :)Till today, Hogg could not take his wicket for the second time. That's confidence and dedication. After this incident Brad Hogg and Sachin Tendulkar came face to face 21 times... but he could never get him out. Sachin Tendulkar took his word, given as an autograph, so seriously. It was a word between him and destiny, between him and an unknown opponent. Not a word, that he could be so sure of meeting. Hero's are idolised for so many superficial reasons. I did too. Sachin for all the tons he made, his Sharjah series with Australia - the whirlwind matches, but this is just above all of that.
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