Quiet Reflections

Tag: Perspective

  • A Strange Teacher

    A Strange Teacher

    Aranya’s Dilemma

    Deep within a vibrant jungle, where life pulsed with the rhythm of nature, there lived a wolf named Aranya. Known for his diligence and unwavering commitment, Aranya took great pride in his role as both a protector and steward of the jungle. Over the years, his contributions earned him recognition, and one season, after years of dedicated service, Aranya was honored with a token of appreciation — a reward for his efforts. Humbled, Aranya tucked the reward away, intending to claim it when the time felt right.

    When Aranya finally decided to claim his reward, he was met with a sharp-eyed fox named Chandni, the jungle’s keeper of accounts. With a raised brow, Chandni informed him, “This reward has expired.”

    The words left Aranya baffled. The acknowledgment remained, but the tangible token of his efforts was lost. Disheartened, Aranya sought the advice of the jungle elders, only to find their silence echoing louder than his questions.

    Frustrated yet determined, Aranya turned to Murali, the wise and playful tortoise by the river.

    Murali’s Musings

    “Ah, Aranya,” Murali greeted him with a grin, his voice as steady as the river’s flow. “What brings you here? You look like a monkey who forgot where he hid his bananas.”

    Aranya sighed. “Murali, I was recognized for my work, given a reward, and now it’s expired before I could claim it. It feels… unfair.”

    Murali chuckled, his shell gleaming under the dappled sunlight. ‘Unfair? My dear wolf, fairness is like a cloudless monsoon — possible, but rare. You tucked that reward away, didn’t you? Forgot about it, perhaps?

    Aranya nodded sheepishly.

    “There’s your lesson!” Murali exclaimed. “Rewards are like mangoes — they have their season. But here’s the juicy part: Life isn’t about the mango you missed; it’s about planting the next tree.”

    Aranya tilted his head. “So, it’s my fault?”

    “Fault? Bah!” Murali waved a slow claw. “Think of it as life’s quirky sense of humor. Systems, like vines, have their tangles. Some give you fruit, others trip you up. The trick is learning to laugh at the fall and grow stronger.”

    Murali leaned closer, his eyes twinkling. “Let me share a secret. When life tosses you a challenge, grin back. Use the experience to become better, not bitter. Lead with transparency, handle emotions wisely, and balance rules with a touch of grace. Stay flexible, but don’t twist yourself out of shape. And remember, a wolf who laughs at life can outlast any storm.”

    Aranya’s New Path

    Aranya left the riverside with a lighter heart and a clearer mind. Murali’s playful wisdom had reframed his frustration into an opportunity. The expired reward was no longer a source of regret but a lesson in humility and adaptability.

    From that day forward, Aranya embraced life’s quirks with a blend of humor and resolve. When the jungle’s challenges came his way, he laughed, learned, and led with a renewed sense of purpose.

    As Murali wisely put it, ‘When life hands you expired rewards, just laugh it off. It’s the resilience — and the ability to laugh at the absurdity — that makes a great leader.’

  • Tale of Two Pencils

    Tale of Two Pencils

    Leadership often places us in situations where the right perspective isn’t always clear. The way we interpret and respond to those situations often depends on the lens we wear — a lens shaped by biases, experiences, and priorities.

    The Story of Two Pencils

    Imagine this: Two children are given pencils. A week later, one pencil remains sharp, unsharpened, and pristine. The other is small, worn, and noticeably used.

    Depending on your perspective, you might:

    1. Commend the child with the new pencil for taking care of their belongings, preserving its original form.
    2. Praise the child with the worn pencil for making the most of it — creating, learning, and actively using the tool.

    Both interpretations are valid, yet they tell very different stories about the same situation. As leaders, we often face similar dilemmas. Which pencil — or person — do we reward, and why?

    Beyond Leadership: Parenting and Everyday Life

    This lens applies beyond leadership — to parenting, education, and everyday interactions. As parents, we might face similar questions:

    • Do we praise a child for keeping their toys intact or for wearing them out through imaginative play?
    • Should we value neatness over creativity, or is there room to appreciate both?

    In each case, the story we choose to see reflects our priorities and biases. Recognizing this can help us make more balanced and thoughtful decisions, whether as parents, educators, or mentors.

    Decision-Making and Bias

    In our roles as leaders, parents, educators, or mentors, we often face scenarios where judgment is required:

    • Someone takes a risk, fails, and learns — do we focus on the failure or the effort?
    • Another consistently meets expectations but avoids taking chances — do we value their reliability or question the lack of growth?
    • Someone quietly works behind the scenes, delivering high-quality work without seeking recognition — do we notice their impact, or does their lack of visibility cause us to overlook them?
    • A person excels in one area but struggles in another — do we focus on their strengths or get distracted by their weaknesses?
    • Someone makes a strategic bet based on their analysis, but their analysis turns out to be wrong. Despite the flawed reasoning, the outcome turns out right due to external, unrelated factors. Do we praise the person for the successful result, or do we focus on the poor judgment and flawed analysis that led to the decision?

    Our responses to such situations are shaped by biases, whether we recognize them or not. At times, we might reward what is most visible over what has deeper impact or favor immediate outcomes over sustained effort. Pressures like time constraints and competing priorities can also influence our judgment, sometimes leading us to overlook the full context.

    The Brain’s Natural Shortcuts

    Our brains are wired to seek patterns and make quick decisions. This can be helpful in managing day-to-day priorities but risky when evaluating others. For instance:

    Without awareness, these shortcuts can oversimplify the complexity of people and situations. But when we pause to reflect, we can challenge these tendencies and uncover more nuanced insights.

    Reflection Over Judgment

    While there’s no perfect answer to the dilemmas leadership presents, pausing to reflect can help. Consider these questions:

    • What assumptions am I making about this person or situation?
    • Am I evaluating outcomes, effort, or a balance of both?
    • Is my reaction influenced by urgency, pressure, or my own blind spots?

    Reflection doesn’t eliminate bias, but it creates space for better judgment. Sometimes, it’s not about choosing the “right” perspective but being intentional about the lens through which we view the situation.

    A Sharper Lens

    Both pencils tell a story — one of care, the other of action. As leaders, parents, or mentors, the challenge isn’t in choosing which story matters more but in questioning the lens through which we interpret them.

    The stories we tell about others often reflect the biases we carry. By sharpening our awareness, we move closer to understanding the full narrative — one that values complexity over simplicity, intention over reaction.

    So, the next time you encounter a pencil, pause. What story do you think you’re seeing, and what truths might be hidden just beneath its surface?

  • A Cup of Clarity

    A Cup of Clarity

    It was the middle of the month, and Parth stared at the “Payment Declined” message flashing on his phone. His heart sank. The realization was like a cold wave hitting him, his savings were gone. He had spent the past few months thinking he could juggle everything — his new job, a flashier lifestyle, and the mounting debt — but the numbers no longer added up.

    Just a few months ago, life had seemed perfect. A new job offer had come through, promising a fresh start, higher pay, and a bright future. Parth had eagerly packed up his apartment and left his small neighborhood behind, moving into a swankier part of the city to match the lifestyle he felt he deserved. He splurged on dining out, gadgets, and vacations — all while ignoring his growing credit card bills.

    By the time the new job had been delayed for six months due to unforeseen circumstances, his income was already shrinking. His savings were long gone. The debt was piling up faster than he could manage. Every passing day seemed like a tightrope walk as he tried to cover his expenses, borrowing from one credit card to pay another. It was a vicious cycle.

    The Turning Point

    With his finances in disarray, Parth realized he had to make a change, but he wasn’t sure where to start. A friend, sensing his distress, suggested he leave the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. “Head to the outskirts, find a cheaper place to live, and take some time to clear your mind,” the friend advised. It seemed like the only option. So, Parth packed up and moved to a quiet neighborhood on the city’s edge, away from the distractions of his old life.

    In this simpler environment, Parth felt isolated, but he also started to see his situation with fresh eyes. He stopped going out for expensive dinners and cut back on luxuries. The new, quieter life allowed him space to think — perhaps for the first time in months.

    One evening, while walking to the local park, Parth stumbled across a small eatery tucked away on a narrow street. The sign read “Madhav’s Corner — Tea & Toast.” The smell of freshly brewed tea and toasted bread wafted through the air, drawing him in. Inside, an elderly man with graying hair and a weathered face greeted him with a warm smile. “Tea?” he asked, already setting a cup in front of him.

    As Parth sat down, he couldn’t help but notice the modesty of the place. It was nothing fancy — just a small table, a couple of chairs, and a menu offering only tea and bread toast. Yet, there was something oddly comforting about it.

    An Unexpected Mentor

    The man introduced himself as Madhav. After a few minutes of small talk, Parth learned that Madhav had retired from a government job years ago. Instead of relaxing into retirement, he had opened this little eatery to keep himself busy and connected to the community. “It’s not about the money,” Madhav said with a chuckle. “It’s about the company. And the tea, of course.”

    At first, Parth dismissed Madhav as just another retiree, running a small business to pass the time. He didn’t expect much from the conversation. But then, one evening, when the place was quieter than usual, Madhav sat down with Parth. “Something’s bothering you,” he said, eyeing him with a knowing look. Parth hesitated but then shared his financial struggles — the debt, the bad decisions, and the looming fear of not being able to make ends meet.

    Madhav listened quietly, nodding along. When Parth had finished, the old man took a slow sip of tea, then offered some unexpected wisdom.

    Madhav’s Lessons

    “Let me tell you something,” Madhav began. “When I was still working in the government, I earned just enough to get by. But the one thing I always did was save first.” He paused to let the words sink in. “I didn’t wait until I had money left to save. I saved first. The moment I received my paycheck, I put aside a portion of it. Even if it was just 10% at the start. And the rest, I used for everything else — living expenses, luxuries, and everything in between.”

    Parth was taken aback. “But, isn’t that difficult? You know, saving first and then living on the rest?”

    Madhav smiled. “You’ll never know until you try. Trust me, if you keep saving first, even if it’s small, you’ll learn how to live within your means. You won’t realize it at first, but the habit becomes natural. And that’s how you build security — one step at a time.”

    Madhav leaned back and continued. “Another thing — prepare for tough times. I’m sure you’ve heard of the importance of an emergency fund. But let me tell you this: when things go south, don’t wait until it’s too late. Keep at least 18 months of expenses in a safe place. Liquidity is key. Trust me, during difficult times, it buys you peace of mind.”

    Parth nodded. He had never really thought of it that way. Most people, he thought, were always trying to stretch their income to match their expenses. But here was a man, a retired government official running a simple tea shop, telling him how to safeguard his future.

    Madhav didn’t stop there. “And don’t fall into the trap of debt. If you don’t need something, don’t buy it. Use credit wisely, and avoid loans that can suffocate you when times are tough. Always live within your means.”

    For the first time in months, Parth felt a weight lift off his shoulders. The simple wisdom, shared over cups of tea, felt like a lifeline.

    A New Beginning

    Over the following months, Parth took Madhav’s advice to heart. He moved into a smaller, more affordable apartment in the outskirts, as his job offer was still delayed. He began saving at least 10% of his earnings every month, even though it was tough. He built an emergency fund, carefully controlling his expenses. Slowly but surely, he began to regain control over his finances.

    By the time his new job started, Parth had adopted a new mindset: save first, spend later. No more reckless spending. No more living paycheck to paycheck. He wasn’t completely out of the woods, but he felt confident in his ability to face whatever came next.

    One day, after a few months had passed, Parth found himself back at Madhav’s Corner, sitting across from the old man once again. He took a deep breath. “I wanted to thank you, Madhav. You don’t know how much your advice changed things for me.”

    Madhav looked at him and nodded, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. “I told you, it’s not about the money. It’s about taking control of your life, one small decision at a time.”

    Conclusion

    Parth learned that the road to financial stability wasn’t about finding the perfect opportunity or making the right investment — it was about developing habits that ensured long-term security. And those lessons came not from a financial expert, but from a humble man running a tea stall, who had lived through his own struggles and found a way to stay steady. Sometimes, the best wisdom comes from the most unexpected places.

  • Arbitrage: Where Circles Meet

    Arbitrage: Where Circles Meet

    When most people hear “arbitrage,” they think of the stock market — buying something cheap in one place and selling it for more somewhere else. You know, traders in suits, lots of screens, and numbers flying everywhere. But here’s the thing: this idea isn’t just for finance. It shows up quietly in our everyday lives. At its heart, it’s noticing a difference between two things and using it to create value. That difference could be skills, places, ways of thinking, or even moments in time. We all do it, though we rarely call it that. Once you notice it, the world feels different. Gaps aren’t empty—they’re opportunities waiting to be explored.

    Everyday Gaps: How We Use Them

    Often, we do this without even realizing it. A person who speaks two languages might move effortlessly between home and school, feeling at ease in one place and sharp in another. Someone shares a hobby online, not knowing that someone far away would pay to learn it. A family recipe, carried to a new town, suddenly becomes the highlight of community gatherings. Then there’s the kind we do on purpose. The moments when we see a gap and decide to step in. A designer in a small town works for clients in a big city, earning city-level money while enjoying a simpler life. A professional learns a rare skill, knowing it will be useful later. A business owner notices a service that’s common elsewhere but missing locally, and brings it home. Even nature does it. Mangrove trees grow where land meets sea — a place most plants can’t survive. And yet, they find nutrients in the water, shelter fish, and protect the coast from storms. They don’t just survive there—they thrive, taking value from both land and water to create something new.

    The key is noticing it. When we become aware of the “in-between” spaces we inhabit—whether it’s geography, skills, or perspective—we can turn them into advantages instead of leaving them to chance. This applies in parenting, too. Sometimes we mix lessons from our own childhood with ideas from school or culture, giving our kids both guidance and care. And in decision-making, we often use gut feelings and logic together, without realizing it. Noticing these gaps allows us to do it on purpose, improving our choices in life as naturally as using a skill in work.

    Turning Gaps into Lasting Advantage

    Simple gaps don’t last forever. Once others notice, the edge disappears. In the stock market, this can happen in seconds. In life, it might take months or years. Sometimes, though, a gap can grow into a lasting advantage. This happens when the bridge you build becomes more than a connection—it becomes its own little ecosystem.

    Take someone moving from India to the West for work. They use their skills in a new country, but their family and knowledge of home remain in the East. Over time, they become a bridge—sharing ideas, resources, and opportunities both ways. This early advantage grows into a personal “moat.” They’re trusted in both worlds, understand the subtleties of each, and find opportunities that few others do. The original gap—location and markets—was just the start. The lasting advantage comes when this position is strengthened with trust, relationships, and knowledge others can’t copy.

    Being Careful with Gap

    There’s another side. Gaps can be overused or exploited, sometimes harming others. We see this in finance, when repeated trades destabilize markets. In travel, a charming place can lose its magic if too many people visit. In skills, a rare ability can become common overnight, taking away its value for those who relied on it.

    The pattern is the same: taking too much and giving too little back. Real success comes from noticing gaps, using them, and also helping the space grow. Knowing when to step back is as important as knowing when to act. The best gap-users—whether in money or life—sense not only when to move, but also when to wait and invest elsewhere.

    Conclusion

    You don’t need to be a trader to use gaps. You just need to notice differences—between skills, knowledge, or ideas—and see how they might connect. It’s not about always taking advantage. It’s about curiosity. Ask yourself:

    • Where do I unknowingly live between two worlds—and what value does that give me?
    • Where could I choose to build a bridge between differences and needs?
    • How could I turn a short-term advantage into something lasting?

    Sometimes the bridge we stand on is one we stumbled into. Sometimes it’s one we chose to build. Both can be powerful—but the second gives us control. When we look at the world this way, gaps stop being tricks for fast gain. They become a way to see where things are uneven and how we can move through those spaces carefully. Sometimes the bridge is for ourselves. Sometimes it’s for others. But it always starts with noticing the gap—and imagining what could grow there.

    References

  • Two Games, Same Sport

    Two Games, Same Sport

    The stadium fills up quickly. Lights, music, noise. Powerplays begin. Boundaries come early, and every ball feels like an event. A single delivery can shift momentum—a mistimed shot, a clever slower ball, or a missed yorker. There’s little time to settle. The game moves fast. That’s T20.

    A few weeks later, it feels different. The morning air is cooler. The red ball swings early. The field changes, tight at times, spread at others. Bowlers settle into their rhythm, working long spells, setting traps. Batters leave more than they play. Here, a single mistake might not cost much right away, but small patterns of error can build up. Every session feels like its own quiet contest. Winning the day is made up of many such moments. That’s Test cricket.

    Work often shifts between these. Some days move like T20s—quick deadlines, immediate feedback, decisions made in real-time. Product releases, customer issues, market shifts. All asking for quick answers. New tools pop up, like AI, promising shortcuts. The scoreboard moves fast.

    Then there are days that feel more like Tests. Deeper work. Designing foundations, solving complex problems, shaping teams. The outcomes here aren’t immediate, but they quietly compound. A design choice today might shape the product for years. A hire today could shape the culture for even longer.

    Both rhythms exist side by side. A quick release in the morning, followed by a long review in the afternoon. An urgent patch, then a strategy discussion that stretches for hours. The game changes formats constantly.

    Life feels like this, too. In younger years, it’s often closer to a T20. Everything’s an opportunity. The energy to chase them all. Swinging freely. Moving fast.

    But eventually, responsibilities arrive. Quietly at first, then surely. Family. People who count on you. The game stretches out. You start planning for longer innings. You leave a few deliveries alone, choose when to play, and learn to let some opportunities pass. Others, you create patiently. Beneath it all, there’s always more happening. Bowlers set things up—swing, bounce, variations—but someone still has to score the runs, one at a time. Singles, partnerships, sessions stitched together.

    In work and life, opportunities appear. Some are created by teams, by timing, by conditions aligning. But it still rests on individuals to convert them. Quietly doing the work. Taking singles when boundaries aren’t there. Handling difficult spells without letting them spiral. Sometimes, you’re both bowler and batter. Creating chances for others, while also carrying the responsibility to move the scoreboard. Much of it comes down to how you absorb what’s thrown at you, and how you choose to respond. Some days ask for patience, others for courage, and sometimes, it’s just about showing up and doing the job.

    And then, without warning, the conditions change. The clouds roll in. The ball starts swinging. What worked earlier doesn’t seem to anymore. In work, markets move, technologies evolve, roles shift. In life, new situations emerge unexpectedly.

    A good player adjusts. Sometimes, the adjustment works. Other times, it doesn’t. Wins and losses follow, but they’re carried lightly. The plan shifts to the next innings, the next opportunity. But always, the game moves only when you’re at the crease. Intent doesn’t add to the score. The delivery must be played. The work must be done. That’s when it turns real.

    Over time, the formats blur. Work and life, short bursts and long stretches, fast moves and patient waiting—they all belong to the same game. The skill isn’t in choosing one over the other. It’s in staying present, watching the conditions, adjusting when needed, and playing the next ball. The rest? Just format.

  • Still in Orbit: The Pluto Story We All Share

    Still in Orbit: The Pluto Story We All Share

    We spend a large chunk of our lives—sometimes 50 to 60%—at work. It’s an essential part of our existence, shaping not just what we do, but often, who we are.

    Recently, I was reading about Pluto’s reclassification, and it struck me: there’s something deeply human about Pluto’s story. It mirrors many of the dynamics we navigate in our careers. So here’s my take on Pluto moments—and why they matter at work.

    Pluto: A Brief History of Reclassification

    Discovered in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, Pluto was celebrated as the ninth planet in our solar system. For over 75 years, it orbited quietly and faithfully at the edge of our celestial family.

    But Pluto was different. It’s smaller than our moon, with a tilted and elongated orbit. It takes 248 Earth years to complete one revolution around the sun.

    In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. Not because it had changed—but because the definition of a planet did.

    And just like that, a planet was no longer a planet.

    The Workplace Has Its Own Pluto Moments

    In our careers, many of us go through a Pluto moment.

    You put in the work. You lead. You fix what’s broken. You stay late. You deliver results. You make others’ lives easier. And yet, one day, the spotlight shifts. Recognition doesn’t come. Others—perhaps louder or more visible—move forward. You stay where you are.

    You begin to wonder: Did I stop being valuable? Or did the definition of success just change?

    Often, it’s not you—it’s the system. Like Pluto, your orbit hasn’t changed. Only the metrics have. Company culture evolves. Leadership expectations shift. Suddenly, visibility and perception matter more than quiet impact.

    If You’re in a Pluto Moment—Keep Orbiting

    It’s tempting to slow down or give up when you feel unseen. But Pluto never stopped orbiting the sun. It didn’t shrink. It didn’t rebel. It simply kept moving, true to its path.

    If you’re in that moment—don’t let it define your worth.

    Keep doing what you do best: build, fix, support, lead. You have gravity—even if it’s quiet.

    Workplace dynamics are always shifting. One day you’re celebrated, the next you’re overlooked. That’s when it’s most important to remember: the system is bigger than you. Your value doesn’t vanish just because someone didn’t call it out.

    Stay in your orbit. Keep showing up.

    If You’re a Leader—Don’t Miss the Plutos

    Every team has its Plutos. The steady fixers. The quiet doers. The ones who aren’t posting wins, but creating them for others.

    As leaders, we have an opportunity to:

    • See outcomes, not just optics
    • Recognize impact, not just volume
    • Give direction, not just ratings
    • Shine light, not just cast shadows

    Leadership isn’t easy. We juggle priorities, manage teams, hit goals. It’s easy to reward the visible, the vocal, the ones who shine on stage.

    But we must also build systems that surface silent strength. That catch the ones holding the fort while others walk the stage. Recognition doesn’t need a spotlight. It just needs sincerity—and timing.

    When you lead like the sun—steady, generous, life-giving—your team feels your orbit too.

    The Closing Orbit

    Pluto may no longer be a planet on paper. But it didn’t lose its purpose. It still orbits. It still belongs. It still matters.

    Whether you’re going through a Pluto phase, or you’re in a position to notice someone else’s—honor the orbit. Value quiet strength. Lead with light.

    We all face Pluto phase in our careers. But they don’t define us. They refine us.

    And when the time comes for you to shine—look around. There are Plutos beside you. Acknowledge them. Support them. Help them shine too.