Saturday, December 12, 2009

Tortoise is my favourite animal

My parents told me and their parents had told them, the tales about the 'kachua' who outran the rabbit. Jim Collins, in his famous management book 'Good to Great' talked of the same as 'The Hedgehog effect' and now after five months through my PGDM course, I am realising its importance all over again.

With the relentless pressure of the deadlines, project presentations, assignment submissions. And now we have Summer internship interviews in under a month's time with trimester end exams scheduled less than a fortnight away. I was highly stressed. But then my mom told me the same story again, and then it dawned upon me.

I can lead a life as successful as that of the tortoise from the story (he is the only one appreciated while the rabbit is ridiculed), yet similarly relaxed and simple. The hedgehog effect says that instead of trying to do many things at a time (which by the way is impossible) make your life simple by seriously considering what are the necessary things to be done and leaving out all the unnecessary chores from your routine. So, I prioritised and left all the unnecessary activities out of my day. Now not only am I lesser pressed for time, the quality of each piece of work I do is also better.

Hedgehog, and for me, Kachua..U r d lyf saver.