Like several of my colleagues at work,
I too look forward to the lunch hour every day. Not just for the appetizing
canteen food, or the lunch room conversations – but for the table-tennis game that
follows after lunch.
It is a pastime that seems to be
gaining in popularity, and with younger folks joining the organization, the
standards seem to be going up too. It’s usually a series of matches involving
doubles teams, and apart from being a healthy stress-buster it is also a great
leveler (where else would you find the rookie accounts officer hammering the
CFO!)
As I sat back and thought of the fun-and-games,
I couldn’t help thinking that the daily ping-pong session also offers us some
interesting life lessons. Here are just a few:
1.
Not too high, not too low. It’s a simple game after all. Hit the
ball – not so low that it doesn’t clear the net - and not so high that it does
not land on the table. Most things in business – and in life - are like that. It’s
about finding balance. In dealing with people, you can’t be so hard that no one
wants to work with you – and you can’t be so soft that no one takes you
seriously. You can’t invest so much that the returns never seem enough, nor
should you invest so little that sustaining the business becomes unviable. And
remember, you have to make that
adjustment. The net won’t get any lower – nor will the table become any longer.
You need to adjust.
2.
Two better players don’t always make
a stronger team. We
often think great teams are just about having highly talented individual
players. As we see every afternoon, the two stronger individual players don’t
always end up winning as a team. Teamwork is about learning to get the best out
of your team-mate, covering for the other’s weaknesses – and helping him (or
her) to play to his full potential. Good lesson to remember – on the
table-tennis table and off it too.
3.
Small things matter. We have a table that cost quite a
bit and some very nice, expensive racquets too. And yet, there are days when we
don’t get to play – because we have run out of table-tennis balls! A ball only
cost some 15 rupees or so – but without it – life comes to a standstill. And we
seem to only worry about them when they are not there. Good question to ask
yourself: what are the ping-pong balls in your life? Who are those almost
forgotten, seemingly insignificant folks – without whom your life wouldn’t be
the same?
4.
Blame it on the racquet! It happens all the time. Someone
hits a bad shot, or loses a few points – and then what does he do? He looks
disgustedly at his racquet and reaches out for a change of racquets. The
message seems to be clear: The problem is not with me, it’s that damn racquet!
When things go wrong we always look for someone or something to blame it on. A
bad workman – even in sport – still blames his tools. Maybe a good idea to just
take a deep breath, and focus on your game – and not worry about the racquet.
Most times, the racquet is only as good as the person holding it!
5.
It’s just a sport – but everyone
wants to win! The
competitiveness on the table is to be seen to be believed. It doesn’t matter
that not every player is an expert and there are no big prizes to be won, everybody
is playing to win. It’s fun alright, but there is an underlying desire to do
well, to get that next point, to win. And that’s a good attitude to have in
life. Have fun. But ensure you are playing to win. Focus on the next point –
don’t worry about the last one. Remember, no matter how strong the opposition
maybe, you can win the next point. And the next. You can win. That’s what sport
is all about. Heck, isn’t that what life is all about?
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