At My Work Place!

The Office Versus The Home!

Or – Who is the bigger boss?

Ask even the most ardent and zealous workaholic you may meet in your life – and he or she will give you the same answer – of course it is the home which is more important to me than the office – but in many cases more than one he will be deceiving no one but himself or herself only!

A good friend of mine – the irony is that he himself is – in all sense and aspects of the word – a workaholic – and a worst case scenario one that I had ever seen! But then it is easier to preach than to practice! However, he forwarded me this short – but to the point speech given by the Former CEO of Coca Cola Bryan Dyson – and I thought it was very nice to share with you my Readers.

The message said – “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls –  Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.

Work efficiently during office hours and leave on time. Give the required time to your family, friends and have proper rest. Value has a value only if its value is valued.”

How many times we get similar good messages from good and well intentioned friends. But do we take care and notice? Or try to rectify, amend and change our lives? Certainly not – the advice goes from one ear – and out of the other!

Those of you who are my avid and keen readers of mine will have noted that I always give personal experienced examples in my articles and in illustration. If you have read my article A Question of Loyalty last month you must have remembered about me writing about Mr. Care Free (CF). You can still find the article here in my website www.majidall.com That was a live example of a person who cared and minded just enough to assure he got his pay check – but his top priorities were more at his home and family more!

The Offices Can Still Be Happy Places!

A good British friend of mine advised me of how his first marriage ended in divorce – and the second one was heading to the rocks too. He was working for this Far Eastern company that thought it just-in for staff to remain in the offices until 10 or 11 p.m. at night as ‘just a normal continouos routine thing and practice to do’. When he came home his wife had moved into the children’s room – and the whole house was ‘cool and lukewarm’ – his own words to me!  He came to his senses after reading my book Psychology of Arab Management Thinking! – www.majidbooks.com

You see we were both working in the same company – and I could not keep on the charades and acts any further – with the strains on the family for me! In the end we departed – peacefully and amicably – after initial comments like how can you as the top Senior Omani go home earlier than us? And after investing in your country too (sic)! Even though they had all their families abroad – but that did not strike them to the fundamental and critical difference between us!

In the book I had said – Nowadays it is just not enough only to have your personal and job dedication and commitment – what is needed by them is a complete abdication and surrender in commitment, dedication, loyalty, faithfulness etc to your work, job aspects, and responsibilities. Just your input is not enough, far more is required”.

But Family Comes First!

I know of a good friend of mine who was a crazy workaholic – but not that only –but his loyalties and allegiances were more to his company Management – than to his family and friends. When he became very sick and ailing he was slowly and carefully being sidelined and being marginalized – to the extent he ended being medical boarded. During his time of hospitalization, a few flowers and cards were sent to him at the hospital – with some lower end ranks visiting more than
the higher ones! In a few weeks time – these too dried up. When he saw me he cried like a baby – and in front of his family!

Happy Family Faces – With All At Home In Time!

Please do not be like these peoples – and just keep remembering and keep in mind what Mr. Bryan Dyson above had said !

By

 Majid Al Suleimany.