New learnings…new experiences

I stay in a very vibrant colony that abounds with home cooks, bakers and local businesses of every kind. In the pandemic times I have witnessed an upsurge in the community pledging to support local businesses and ensure they survive. It is indeed rare to see such a camaraderie.

Last week was one of those instances wherein I decided to reach out to a local home cook and taste the fine cooking that she had to offer. The meal of crab masala with hot rice bhakris was too tempting for me to resist. In my call to the business owner, I requested her to ensure the crab was cut in half since I did not have the cracker for the same.

When the hot meal arrived, I was excited but then was at a loss because I could see the two big claws staring back at me. Their red orange tang hid the sweet most delicious meat inside (apologies to the non-meat eaters!), and I did not know how to get to it. I tried breaking the claws with my hands of course but to no avail. I then reached out to my neighbor who suggested that I use my pestle to break it. Voila! It was done. And I am glad I did it because it was very scrumptious, not withstanding the mess my failed efforts created.

What my experiences with the claws bring forth:

  • It takes a lot of effort to get to the core of things, just where the sweet spot is. That journey by itself can be very messy and painful. The inclination to let go and not try further would be very strong. However, there is simply no denying of the fruits of hard labor and the long-term benefits that come along.
  • Many a times the external appearance of things may not look enticing. It is tough to channelise all energies for undertaking a new task whole heartedly, especially when the project does not look appealing outwardly. However, when the tasks are broken into manageable pieces, it may reveal interesting nuggets of new learning and opportunities for growth through the most unexpected means.
  • No one is expected to know everything. Yet, many hesitate to seek help and ask for support. Time to keep egos on the outside and step in the world of networking and support. Every organisation has its own support ecosystem. It would augur well for people stuck at some point to reach out and tap that ecosystem. Simple answers are surprisingly, simple and close by.
  • Success really smells sweet. A job well done is bound to be recognised and appreciated. That provides impetus and encouragement to keep exceling. Instead of focusing on who is better than you, it always pays to stay focused on giving one’s best.
  • The next time I come across a delicious crab dish, I now know exactly what to do. This is precisely how things roll out when a similar new assignment comes across. The earlier hesitancy and fear of failure would disappear and experience and learning from past success would kick in.

Here’s a toast to your new experiences and to getting to the core of things – claws or without claws 😊


The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

Sarita Bahl
Country Group Head CSR at Bayer - South Asia
Sarita Bahl leads the Corporate Social Responsibility function for Bayer South Asia and is also the Director – Bayer Prayas Association. Prior to this, she successfully oversaw the communications and public affairs function for Bayer South Asia. Over her three decades of professional experience, Sarita has held multiple roles across diverse industries, public sector, trade associations, MNCs and the Not-for-profit sector. An alumnus of Tata Institute of Social Science and the Swedish Institute of Management Program, Sarita specializes in stakeholder engagement, sustainability and communications. She is passionate about animals (is mother to a female cat), books and movies.

Be the first to comment on "New learnings…new experiences"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*