Survive from your relative position

I will tell a story first. A Japanese and an American, both fond of hunting, entered a jungle with guns. In the pursuit of game they entered deep jungle and suddenly realized that they had run out of bullets. Just then they heard a lion roaring behind them. Both started running. But the Japanese took a short break to put on his sports shoes. The American said, "What are you doing? We must first get to the car." The Japanese said, "No. I only have to ensure that I remain ahead of you."

How true !! The lion would stop after getting his first victim! It is not important how good you are in running, it is important to know that you do it slightly better than others.

Motivationally and attitudinally, I will ask anybody not to be jealous of others and do his work sincerely. It is the perfect recipe to be happy and content – the fruition of selfless “Karma” that prohibits looking at the fruits of your work itself. I have friends, some of them are more brothers, who are much more successful in every sense and deservingly, no doubt. Rather than being jealous, I have always remained delightfully awestruck, proud and reverent at their achievements, some of which become part of folklores. Their dedication and the results provide me inspiration but I do not compare that of mine, because I know I am different, good or bad. But can it be possible when you are in direct competition with someone for the fruits of labour? Could I have done it in my office when I was in the industry, or with people who are not friends, just peers or straight competitors, by definition ?

For examples, say, in a top-grade MBA Institute all (or most) of the students have entered thro’ their achievements, through the front door and now they are all preparing for their ultimate goal – campus placement. In previous articles, I have commented in detail on the need for professional help in important things and the stupidity of amateurish pride of being smart and adequate, so I will keep it aside. Lets assume that all are ready. Now, on what basis the HR guys of a company will take say 5 of the 15 guys ? They normally see the absolute quality of a candidate, which as per our premises, are more or less comparable (otherwise they would have gone to a higher or lower graded Institute in the first place) and also the relative quality of a candidate, the phenomenon that is known as differentiation. The guys who will understand exactly what things the HR people look for in a candidate and the fine prints behind all the bullshits that they may talk and project an image accordingly and create a differentiation with others, will sail through easily.

If the general absolute quality is suspect or the students are not properly trained in the game itself, the overall strike rate will decrease (e.g. a top IT co. took only about 22% candidates selected for interviews in a top-level Institute in the last year), but those 22% surely were a step ahead of the others. A clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. Getting a job is no big deal, deal is to get the best of the jobs, in best of the terms, with the highest ease.

Jockeying for this relative position, a game of one-upmanship, is a natural phenomena coming out from the super-competitive rat race everywhere, not only the entry. After joining a company, one will be subjected to it. Everywhere, a spate of people join at a particular entry-level position and though the initial 1 or 2 promotions are usually given out on plain seniority etc., the next promotions are bound to be decided by this “staying one step ahead”, as the image of the worker is usually the supreme consideration in those times. True, there are often an elaborate and bombastic HR process for the same exercise, but it is always done and maneuvered in a way to justify the results that have been long decided even before the appraisal process started.

It is simply not the rule that the best or the hardest worker are given the rewards, it applies to the people who manage to create an image for it or any position of influence which is again a complicated process that may even include sexual favors which are outside the purview of this discussion. There are often people who have made it an art to live off the credits of others and simply do it, usurping the limelight. These are called “born managers” who always direct and manage, how the others will work and send those to him, so that he can send the mail to the Boss everyday (or week) talking about the progress and the dedication of the team (!!??). because they actually have a very light schedule (which can be felt by the half-dead team members only but not others), they get a lot of extra time to sound the trumpet and go around giving the impression that he is dying with work but of course never complains, as after all he is responsible for running the Company !!

However the management world shout about the hallowed “flat” structure of the tomorrow’s organizations, As you will go up the ladder, you will understand we were never out from that colonial mind where the hierarchy is the supreme yardstick. In that pyramid structure, even if four excellent guys are in a level, only one slot will probably be available in the upper level at a point of time. Then the question will be settled by the image or the equation. A bit of mathematical genius can get you there, or you go back to school. If you want to win, first you must be prepared to fight.

When the lion is behind you, being “Good” or “Very good” do not count anymore, you have to be “Better” or the “victim”. You are so lucky, to have a choice.