The Difference

The current education system demands replications of texts, phrases and sentences from the books to test answer sheets. The education system doesn't validate the understanding of the students. And we, happily forget what we studied over night after dumping them in a span of three hours. And then preparation for next exam starts and students forget what they studied once the exam is over. We don't read again unless we don't qualify that particular subject.

Ask any student to explain why sugar gets equally distributed in a cup of tea, chances are less that they can relate it to diffusion. How many Electrical & Electronic Engineers are able to fix a repaired iron box at home?!

That's the difference between studying and learning.

If by seeing the movie "Sethupathi", a Tamil movie where the child rises up to the occasion and handles the situation, but becomes passive when it doesn't require intervention, if a student of Psychology or Emotional Intelligence or HR Specialization recognizes and relates it to "Emergent Leadership", then learning has really taken place.

Same is the interesting difference between listening and hearing. A lot of us are capable of hearing. But we unconsciously ignore the ability to listen and merely hear to what's going on around us. By hearing, our ears can grasp the sound of a fan, honk, bell and whatever. But when we listen, we imbibe, we process and assimilate the inputs of the teacher, friend or our partner.

Are you differentiating?

Love,

Known is a drop

Our forefathers have said, "Katrathu, kai alavu & kallaththu kadal alavau", a literal translation of this is, "known is a handful and unknown is an ocean." The English variant to this is what says, "Known is a drop and unknown is an ocean."

I recently went to a book shop in a mall and the cooking section of books caught my attention.

I saw a book that struck me so hard. The title of the book was, "125 million Italian recipes." While I possess limited knowledge in Italian cuisine, such as pasta, salads and pizzas,  a number as 125 million was hard to digest. But sure is a wake up call.

Love,

Everyone leaves a mark

In a city there was a 12 seater restaurant. The restaurant had two shifts with three chefs. The first shift was managed by the single master chef. The second shift was staffed by two others.

The master chef was experienced and old as the title suggests. The other two were skilled and semi skilled, but lacked experience the master chef had.

Every day when the amateur chefs come in the master chef leaves for the day. As the master chef leaves, the kitchen looks tidy at its best and all items neatly put back. It used to be less tidy and unorganized when the amateur ones leave.

The semi skilled amateur one day asked out of curiosity to the old chef. "Master, how come you never leave a sign of having cooked? It looks as though you never cooked and only cleaned the kitchen." The old master chef smiled and walked out without a reply.

Occasionally the amateur asked the same question and the old chef never replied. One day the amateur lost it and stopped the old man saying he would not let him pass until he got a reply. The old man looked around, and replied patiently, "I've left a mark, if you're capable of finding it, find it."

Unable to find any mark the amateur gave up next day to master chef. For few days the amateur never questioned the master. One fine day the old master quit from his work. Even on the last day, the old chef left the kitchen spic and span. The amateur wanted to get the answer and was more polite and asked his question, "Master, how come you leave no mark while you cook?" The master was more polite, and replied, "Clearly there's a mark I've left. Look carefull." Saying those words the old master walked out.

Few months passed by and the old man was in his death bed. He sent for the amateur. The young one came by, with a concern the old master asked, "So, did you find the mark I used to leave?" The amateur had no reply. The master then finally spoke, "I used to leave a mark everyday and that's the mark of cleanliness." Saying these the master went into a slumber. The young one sat there for a few minutes fumbled at the realization and walked out, without disturbing the old man's peaceful sleep. The young one learnt his lesson.

Clearly, everyone leaves a mark!

Love,

Mind one's self

Have you ever wondered the depth of understanding or realization you could hit on if you paid attention to yourself and not to others.

Observation is key to learning, but not by observing other people and their lives.

How many of us have encountered our foods and plates being seen over by others across other tables in a restaurant?

This is a common scene in many parts, at least within India.

One must pay attention to their own needs, wants & desires and try to satisfy it rather than see someone else.

One quote of Will Smith or who ever said that I like the most, we buy things with money we don't have, to impress people whom we don't like. Funny, yet so damn true!

Your thoughts? Reply in comments!

Love,

Customer service

Back in 2010, I used to work as a customer support analyst for UK's largest telecom provider for broadband internet. Almost everyone in my team and other teams used to make use of opportunity to swap to an unproductive aux and avoid taking a call. Be it training, hurdle or in name of documenting the call.

Rather I used to answer calls anytime. For I loved to interact with people, and I loved helping them.

There was this incident where my first English caller of that day began to ruin my happiness as she was very irate. It took me more than 20 minutes to identify the issue. There was no problem with the broadband network. My scope to support ends the minute we have established internet connection.

But this customer was troubled. I felt the urge to help and asked her what she was intending to do. She replied that she underwent a surgery in her eye few days back and she can see only with one eye, and she wanted to send email to her children and relatives that the surgery was a success and she was safe.

I took every possible effort to help her write her first ever email in her life. The physical cripple coupled with agony of ignorance had troubled the poor lady. When she clicked the send button on email, she genuinely thanked me, "Son, I know I've been very bad to you. Yet, you have been so kind to me. And thank you so much. God bless you."

The reason why I'm sharing a story almost 6 years later is, every call in a support center is an opportunity to help someone in need. Every avoidance is a real need ignored. Take pride in what you do, never underestimate the role you are doing at work, you are there to help someone. Do it with that empathy.

The best way to reach God is to serve his kids who need to be helped. It's never through donations made to temples that man built and claims as God's residence.

Love,