Category: Bal’s Friday Thought

This week has been a tough one.

Last Sunday, I was at the local Sikh Temple. I saw a close family friend who I hadn’t seen for a while. We laughed, joked and he asked how my parents were. I said they’re good.

Sunday night, I rang my parents. Told them who I saw, and that he was asking about them. Dad told me, how he remembers when he came to England from India, the support Dad and others provided for him and how he always shows a lot of love to the family.

Monday I was busy working. Challenges at work. But aren’t there always.

Tuesday at work. Come home. Had football in the evening. Super cold! – but good. Came home – and I had a message to call my Dad.

I called Dad. He said, I’ve some bad news. Earlier in the day, he was out shopping, and he had a phone call that someone had passed away and they needed my Dad’s support to help with some religious items. I asked Dad, who was it… he said, it was who I was laughing and joking with on Sunday.

Totally shocked! Only a few days earlier, we were laughing and joking – and now, he’s no more.

So my Friday Thought… value those around you, hug those close to you and appreciate those that are there for you.

Today’s Friday Thought.. is about your three greatest treasures.

I’ve often spoken about simplicity – with my lean and six sigma background. I’ve often spoken about compassion, and some of the charity work I’m involved with.

Patience. If there was one place I could improve – is patience. On reflection – is it because we have so much data and information around us? Is it these 2 minute clips on Tik Tok that show us how to make a 20 minute meal, make us impatient? (Or do they inspire us?)

Either way, patience is important. And there are methods to help increase patience. I’ll let you find what works for you – & I’ll let you know how my journey goes.

How long have you been doing what you’re doing?

Making a lot of progress?

You see, when you’re comfortable, slow and steady… you can make it. But it’s when you are outside you’re comfort zone, you are more alert, switched on, aware and more focused. And that’s where, honestly, all the progress is made.

Most of you may know, that I’m a Lean Six Sigma BlackBelt. This is why, everything, and I mean everything… that I’m involved in… needs to have a process.

There’s got to be steps. Nothing too complicated. Just a simple, documented, process. That shows what needs to happen. When. How. Etc.. Bonus if there’s a stakeholder map and RACI. But just the basics work.

That’s why, many who have engaged conversation with me or worked with me – I’ll try to explain things in a process-orientated manner. And if I’m seeking information… tell me step… by step.

There’ll always be a time or moment when we fall low on the scale for motivation and inspiration.

Great thing is, there’s ways to move up that scale…

Feeling tired?

Burnt out?

Done a lot of work?

Battery nearly empty?

Time for a re-charge?

Most people leave it till they’re in the red. You know… red being, battery empty. Need a break. Need to re-charge.

Don’t.

When you start to feel low. When you start to know, I’m not 100%… take a break. It only takes longer to recover if you leave it too late.

I’ve shared previously… about how, when looking at those at the top, most people think they got there very easily with the minimum amount of sacrifices.

Not true.

What happens in the background, the years of hard work… no one notices that. Only when they’ve made it, do people realise.

Similar is the path getting there.

If you’re someone working hard, but have set backs… don’t worry… it’s not linear. It’s quite the opposite. You’ll have setbacks. You’ll have all sorts of knock backs.

The important thing is you keep learning from those.

It’s the moment you don’t learn that you don’t progress.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, it’s hard to say sorry.

It’s even harder to say no.

Especially in particular settings such as work, home, etc..

Don’t let indecision ruin progress. If it’s a no, it’s a no. Be honest. Be straight. Be clear. People will respect you more.

Early(ish) in my career, there was a Vice President. He had a role in his organisation. I expressed an interest. He approached me. I was like.. wow! This guy, (senior) has approached me!! This is awesome!!

But on reflection – there were a lot of maybe’s. And as I was walking to his office to say, I’ll maybe consider it… I said no. I said, no… I don’t want to take this opportunity right now.

He said he was disappointed. I was too – for feeling like I’d let him down.

Then a few weeks later, he messaged me – Bal, I have a lot of respect for you, you said no. You didn’t mess me around.