The Pain of Giving
The Pain of Giving
Greetings,
The festive season is upon us and along with that comes the tradition of exchanging gifts. The pandemic does not make things easier, especially with some countries going back into lock down.
These days, most of the gifts are simply being exchanged online. But before we get to the gifting part, gifts have to be short listed, selected and ordered in time. This entire process can take days, if not weeks, to get right.
So shouldn't the gifts justify the time spent on the process and make it worthwhile for both the donor and the recipient? Is it only the recipient's joy that counts? What makes an ideal gift?
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If someone forwarded you this newsletter, please thank them on my behalf! Welcome to Newsletter # 23.
The pandemic exposed the short comings of many businesses. It highlighted the dangers of being solely focused on growth with little margin for error. We woke up to the truth about how the emperor has no clothes. We saw when the tide ran out, who has been swimming naked.
A few basic truths hold good in all times. This timely story about the resilience displayed by a 1,020 year old Japanese shop (yes, 1,020 years old) is testament to some basic principles. It is not just about growth at all costs. Put your employees, community and the environment to the forefront. Safekeep the business to handover to the next generation a few decades on. It would be unwise to act in another way.
This Japanese Shop Is 1,020 Years Old. It Knows a Bit About Surviving Crises.
In a recent course I participated in, I had the pleasure of being a 'thinking buddy' to a few co-participants. A thinking buddy is someone who simply listens and allows the other person to talk uninterrupted. The other person brings up what they are working on, their thoughts, the hurdles and challenges they face. The thinking buddy just listens, pretends to be interested and occasionally nods. The amazing thing is each and every person find their way around the hurdles by themselves.
Years ago, there was an article in the Harvard Business Review about asking the right questions. It is not exactly being as silent as a thinking buddy. Nevertheless, the emphasis is on allowing the speaker to see light on their own and allow their thoughts and ideas to take-off.
Discussing with Hiroyuki about thoughts and ideas taking off , invariably led to a picture of an ANA Boeing 737 take off from Itami Airport in Osaka. The two of us can never get tired of watching planes take off.
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Stay well and see you next week.
Evian
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