The Hindu Business Line : Work is a verb

These statements, which sound as crisp as Athichoodi of Avvaiyar, the grand old lady poet that Tamil Nadu produced centuries ago, are from James Dale's The Obvious (www.crosswordbookstores.com). "The secrets to success in business aren't secrets at all. They're beliefs, ideas, values, and strategies most of us already know, but ignore," he writes.

The book sources time-tested ideas "from historians, story-tellers, moralists," and so on. "Their efficacy has been proven; their potency has rarely been realised; they are effective immediately," declares Dale. The first `obvious' fact is, "Work is a verb." Work is an action, not an observation, explains the author.

"Work is a challenge. Or it should be," reads another statement. "You perform at your best when you're tested. So, if you're good at what you do, if you can almost do it blindfolded, stop. Walk away. Raise the stakes... Take on a challenge. Even if you fail, you failed at something hard, not easy. And you learn something you didn't already know."

Excellent read.

Teachers are travelling companions

In The Witch of Portobello Paulo Coelho explains the real `Tradition' thus: "The teacher never tells the disciple what he or she should do." Teachers, according to him, are merely travelling companions, "sharing the same uncomfortable feeling of `estrangement' when confronted by ever-changing perceptions, broadening horizons, closing doors, rivers that sometimes seem to block their path and which, in fact, should never be crossed, but followed."

There is only one difference between teacher and disciple, says Coelho. "The former is slightly less afraid than the latter." What does the true teacher do? He "gives the disciple the courage to throw his or her world off balance, even though the disciple is afraid of things already encountered and more afraid still of what might be around the next corner."

Captivating story with many messages.

Tailpiece

"Heard at the meeting... that, in the new economy, hours spent at meetings are inversely related to... "

"Hours spent at your desktop?"

"Also, your status in the organisation!"

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D. Murali