The Individual

There has been numerous instances of the individual changing the fate of their families, countries and individuals who by their actions have changed the way the world lives. So a Newton by his intellect and findings changed the way we perceive the basic nature of the thing in the world and a Hitler or a Napoleon used their power of foresight and conquered or tried to conquer the world. I do idolise the latter two guys but for their evil intentions, they would had been one of the greatest source of power of the individual in the world history.

In the modern corporate world the power of individual is being suppressed to some extent, as there is more insistence on team work. So, if you are very good at your job and not a great team player there are high chances that your seniors would try to stymie your growth prospects. This is most obvious at the lower level positions in the corporate hierarchy, because that's the level where you can be more easily be subdued and subordinated, where there are less chances for picking up something and going for it all on your own.

Here it should not be read that I am against team work, in fact I emphasize on the fact that no individual can achieve a great objective in life without forming a great team. But for that they need to be given that leverage to go ahead in life. The most recent and striking example that I would pick up is from the field of sport, none other than the legend Zidane, any body who follows football in any form would surely be aware of Zidane's exploits, most importantly in the ongoing world cup. He had a lead a aging team, mired in criticism from all and sundry to the pinnacle of the greatest sporting event in the world. Football is all about team work, but once in a while we get to see, players who are not only great at individual skills, but are great leaders too. And they can use their charismatic greatness to lead an average performing group of individuals to glory. I know this example is debatable but one more win and the debate would be over.

In the field of Indian business the most striking name would be that of the late Dhirubhai Ambani,who single handedly fired the inspirations of millions and who doesn't know Mr. Murthy of Infosys, they not only created huge businesses but set an example of achievement, humility and how a middle class youngster can chase his dream and be one of the richest or one of the most respected by his own actions. That's the power of individual at its best, they did not inherit millions but they made millionaires out of nothing.

I want to stress on two things by the above exmples, one that hard work, passion, ethics, patience and integrity together with some arrogance and attitude thrown in can make an individual achieve his objective in life. Second, you can be everything but still fail if you don't know how to form a great team. A strong willed individual who can inculcate these few simple attributes in himself won't need to sit in a cubicle cursing his compnay, his bosses, his fate and everything else in the world for being wrong.

The number of examples about people that I have given in this one post surely exceed the sum of all examples I have given in others, the reason being I don't believe in making God out of people, they can be my inspiration but not everything.

By the ways this was my 50th post, excluding nearly 10 which I would have deleted in the initial phase of blogging.