The Right Colour of the Heart

“This is my website. And here are the pictures. Ask Fat-So to upload these at his earliest.”

My friend wrote down the web address on a piece of paper and handed me over a USB full of pictures related to the content of his website that he opened up with the help of Fat-So. 

Fat-So

Fat-So with a little voice was huge; used to work with me in some company. He used to work in the IT department.

If you have any issue related to computers, hardware, software, web or networking; then Fat-So is the right guy to solve it. He still works somewhere in the IT department. And if not, he still is known as the IT Problem Solver.

Common Fact

Old colleague but still had terms. Known him since more than 7 years by now. As we all know:

Fat is Friendly

 

So, he is that kind of a guy. The big with the baby voice. Some other friend needed help in making his website so I had no one else in mind to contact, except Fat-So.

Delay the Task - The Bad Habit

As per other friend’s instructions, I delayed the task and decided to do the favour later.

We have a major problem in here that whatever we are assigned to do we do it later. In an instant we delay the task.

“I’ll do it in a while.”

“Tomorrow.”

“You don’t understand; I’m just stuck.”

“Housework.”

“Out with family.”

“I do remember the task. I never forget.”

“Consider it done but first let me get free.”

“I got a lot on my mind.”

“Busy busy…”

“Tomorrow…for sure.”

And you all must have experienced the similar situation dialogues/excuses as listed above. 

Follow Up

“Did you convey my message to Fat-So?”

That was again my friend after a gap of 6 months with the follow up. I assured my friend that I will convey his message to Fat-So. As I did delay the task earlier. This time I was determined not to do it again.

Adversities You Face When Doing the Right Thing

So I contacted Fat-So the moment I got free:

“I got the pictures for the website. Can you pick them?”

“Brother (Bhaiiii)…why don’t you drop those pictures at my office or at my place?”

“I can’t. No conveyance.”

For another 6 months we both (Me & Fat-So) waited for the conveyance. After 6 months we dropped the idea of conveyance.

“Brother (Bhaiiii)…try emailing me.”

And after 6 months I realised:

“I can’t email you this is too heavy.”

“Brother (Bhaiiii)…your website is shutdown. Re-open it.”

I informed the other friend about his website situation and he got it re-opened in almost 3 days.

“Fat-So, it’s open now.”

“Okay. Let me get free.”

Finally We Met

As usual Fat-So never got free. And, it took another 6 months.

“Where are you?”

“I’m just leaving my place for office.”

“Come to the petrol pump near your place. I got the pictures with me in the USB, take and copy them in your system.”

Thank God Fat-So did not take 6 months to reach that petrol pump, he reached within 5 minutes. The moment I saw him; the Elephant Foxy Jokes started revolving in my mind.

Weather Complaint

It was good to see Fat-So. He reached my car on his motorbike along with the revving. Took off his helmet and complaint about the weather.

“It’s so cold; let’s get the thing done quickly.” Fat-So was right. The weather that day was cold. Also gloomy. No sunlight.

“There will be sunshine, in a day or two. But remember, these are the best days in the whole year. Just grab some dry fruits and carry on with your usual routine. Wear good clothes to feel the breeze. You just have to be brave to enjoy winters. Picture summers in your head. It’s cruel, and the sweat you get, you got to bath all the time. Accept these days the way they are, these days will vanish anytime. Just a matter of 15 days. Then you can complaint about summers throughout the year.”

“Yeah man you are right. HEHEHE!”

Fat-So's Nature

Fat-So was already late for office. He was in a hurry but with no worry over his face.

“I’m already late but it’s alright. Let’s sit in the car.”

“I don’t think that you will be able to fit in my car.”

“I can what do you mean. I’m flexible. HEHEHE!!!”

Fate & Job Done List

He really was flexible. I could not believe he adjusted himself in my tiny car and opened up the lid of his laptop in the front-seat, inserted USB to start copying the files. I was relieved that finally it will be over and the job will be done. Petrol pump was empty. Just the workers waiting for customers.

That day I never had the intentions of meeting Fat-So. Fate. The other tasks were still undone. After meeting Fat-So, I could not imagine how long the other tasks would take to enter the Job Done list.  

Joke

“When I saw you approaching my car; you reminded me of the Elephant Foxy Jokes.”

“What joke?”

“How do you know there are 4 elephants in that building?” I pointed at a random building in front of us on the other side of the main road.

“Is that a question or a joke?”

“It will be a joke if you answer the question.”

“I don’t know.”

“You see, if their Foxy is parked outside the building; it means the elephants are in that building.”

“4 elephants in a Foxy?” Fat-So’s eyes got bigger while asking that question.

“Yeah four elephants in a Foxy. Tell me how easily in a Foxy 4 elephants can sit?”

“Is that a question or a joke?”

“It will be a joke if you answer the question.”

“I don’t know.”

“You see, 2 in front, 2 at the back. So simple. You could have answered that.”

“Stop playing with my head. Take this USB. I got the pictures and will upload them as soon as possible.”

Still Fighting the Bad Habit

Now, another 6 months are passed away and the job is still undone. The task has been continuously delayed at Fat-So’s end. Whatever Fat-So still is doing, at least I stopped doing that by now.

I don’t delay any of my daily tasks whether it’s personal, family oriented or some friend related business. Finally I got rid of this habit. And now, I face what I was earlier or more clearly, my past. Everywhere. Fat-So is just 1 example.

The Right Decision

To make others (family and my social crew or anyone) get rid of this Delay the Task Disease; I’m left with only 1 option (Strategy) and i.e. to

Never Give Up

on them.

The Only Way-Out

Consistency is the key when you want to do something. But like everything happens for a reason, things also happen at their own destined time. And you never know when the heart embraces the Right Colour.

What Fat-So Learnt that Day?

“Okay fine. Tell me if this petrol pump got a washroom?” I asked this question to Fat-So while he was getting out of my car.

“No there is no washroom here.”

“How do you know?” I literally saw a joke coming through his eyes that time. He sat over his motorbike, kicked it to start and then he roared a line along with his big fat laugh:

“Because, Nature is not calling ME!!!”  

P.S. Fat-So asked for FOOD just once during the whole incident which is still in process.

Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

I make intentions,

I think over,

And I break them,

In the fear of what will happen.

The Gardener was useless. I had to do everything by myself. I asked him to clean the Autumn mess.

“I want that corner of the garden.”

He listened carefully and then apparently got to work.

“Sir, it’s done.” The gardener.

And when you recheck his done job. It’s always half done even more carefully.

“I want that corner of the garden.”

Then you jump into details and instruct the gardener in a harsh manner. Except you don’t twist his ears.

“I want that corner of the garden.”

………………………………………………………………………………

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“mmm…mmm!”

“How was your interview?”

“I do not know the answer of this question.” I told my friend the problem after interview.

“What question?”

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“Say anything to avoid the trap.” For my friend, if there is any problem then it’s only in one’s head who is facing the problem. It does not exist in reality.

“What anything?” I asked with irritation.

“Like you will take over the company.”

“I will take over this company.” I took my friend’s advice in the next interview and the person there got scared.

“How?” The HR person asked me in a little bit of horror.

“mmm…mmm…” And my reply made me embarrassed and showed me the exit door of the company as usual.

“How to cater this HOW?” I wanted to kill my friend because he was taking my issue non-seriously.

“What how?” he asked me this question with a blunt face and I told him what happened over the

interview.

“How will I take over the particular company?” I asked him again.

“You don’t say that exactly instead you should have said that, I see myself as a market leader. And if you give me this opportunity you will see me emerging as one.” My friend said those lines with a smile.

“And if he asks me about my strategy?” I tried to use my vocabulary in front of my friend to get the answer.

“I suggest you to stay honest. Don’t become someone you are not. You don’t have a strategy.” My friend gave up on me.

“I don’t think that far.” I tried to come up straight in my next interview.

“Why?” The HR asked in astonishment.

“When the time will come, I’ll see what options do I have and where should I go.” I felt like I have achieved the motto.

“What are your interests?”

And those interests of mine never worked in that interview. Once again, I asked my friend:

“What are they exactly looking in a person during the interview?”

“Nothing, you just have to cheat them. With brains. In fact, with bullshit. The more you speak bullshit in good words the more easily you can cheat. The good the cheater you are, the more they are comfortable with you. And finally you get the good news.” My beloved friend winked at me. After watching and listening to him, I felt like he is one of those HR guys.

I decided to stick to what I was doing up till now during the interviews. After a while I went for another interview where the person was less cruel. In fact, he wasn’t cruel at all. After taking my interview or you can say he just had a good conversation with me, he referred me to another guy and said:

“Meet him. Just take my name.”

I went straight to the referred person and he revealed the secret of the question where do you see yourself in 5 years?

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years is just to check whether you are a person with a Vision in life or you are a person who just wants a job to fulfill the formality, to eat, sleep and drink with big money.”

“What’s wrong in that?”

“Everything. You should be clear about your life. Plus, with that attitude you can only dream of big money, and in reality you might become a beggar.”

“Can you come up with an example?” I asked him the question with a stubborn face. I really did not like what he said.

“Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He had a Vision; of how the whole humanity can be saved from going in to Hell. And how everyone can be guided to the path of Heaven. Our Prophet worked all His life over this Vision.”

I could not blink my eyes for a while when he said those lines.

“You can take the example of Abdul Sattar Edhi in the present time.” I kept looking at him.

“And also Hakeem Muhammad Saeed, who established Hamdard Dawa Khana.” I could not say a word.

“Only 5% human beings in this world are born with a Vision. They are Natural Born Visionaries. If you are not one of them, then you should work on having ONE. A clear picture of what you want. I’m teaching Principles of Strategic Visions in this institute. You can join for free.”

That time I ran away from him. But, the concept of Vision, that word Vision, was something new to me. I asked few of my friends to know if they have a Vision or not?

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“I would like to see myself go up the ladder and progress in the organization. Get rich and diverse hands on experience which will benefit me and the organization in the time to come. Get exposure of as many departments and business lines as possible so that I may have a better understanding, which will enable me to make my inputs for the betterment of a company.”

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“Canada.”

“I don’t know I’m tired of my profession here.”

“As far as this question is concerned, it depends on person to person.”

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“Happily married with two children.”

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“In 5 year time, I want to see myself at a role that offers me more power in decision making and lets me exercise more control while at the same time I want to be a source of spreading knowledge by passing my experiences on to the people working beneath me. My current goal is to learn as much as I can and only knowledge and learning will give me wisdom to see myself where I want to be in 5 year time.”

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“May be somewhere out of this country.”

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“I will set up three businesses, locally and internationally.”

At least my friends got something. Though they were not Visionary.

I got tired of this question. In my next interview I lost my temper over this question that was asked with a little difference:

“Where you will be in 5 years?”

“Are you still stuck to this question? This question has become obsolete.”

“Who told you it has become obsolete?”

“You guarantee my life for the next 5 years, I’ll give you an answer.”

The interview went real bad and after facing too many destructions in my efforts, I decided to workout over Visions. I joined the workshop. Over there I came to know that for the whole time I was only worried about a drop of water:

“let me tell you one thing clearly. It is not a career oriented workshop, as many people perceive that way. It is completely about your life. Career is just a part of it. We are just here to remind you how to achieve excellence in each department of your life. Realize what roles we all have and at what level those roles should be performed. Vision is all about covering all the departments of life. Personal, Family and Professional. Look at every department of life comprehensively because lack of knowledge, leads to wrong priorities.

Shape a great Vision. Your very own Vision. Because if you don’t, someone else surely will. Don’t become a victim of someone else’s Vision. In doing so, you must remember, all is not fine without a clear Vision. First lay the foundation, then start with the efforts.

Those who say they don’t know what they want; they definitely know what they don’t want.

So the things is,

When you don’t know where you want to go; then you surely end up there where you never wanted to go, where you never wanted to be.

Resources don’t matter. Create them. Explain yourself the main idea and divide the Visions into number of years. Like if the Vision is of 50 years, then break it down for your ease. Your time, your money, your life; all you need is greatness to proceed in your Vision.

By the end of this workshop you will get to know your:

Vision, what do you want?

The Purpose of Vision, Why do you want it?

And the Strategy, How are you going to achieve it?

You must and you should remember that your particular Vision must and should be based upon

a Sound Ideology.”

After attending the 3 day workshop of Visions I realized very strongly that why up till now I have wasted my life in running after all those things just because the rest of the world is running after them. I never ever worked upon my Vision and so, I considered myself as a Non-Visionary Person (NVP). And when you’re one, trust me it’s very sad. It becomes impossible to get up early every morning for anything. Even if you have to deal with your gardener, it will be a very big deal then because, the gardener will never listen to you instead, he will pay attention to those who are Visionary.

The gardener was useless. I had to do everything by myself. I asked him to clean the Autumn mess.

“I want that corner of the garden.”

He listened carefully and then apparently got to work.

“Sir, it’s done.” The gardener.

And when you recheck his done job. It’s always half done even more carefully.

“I want that corner of the garden.”

Then you jump into details and instruct the gardener in a harsh manner. Except you don’t twist his ears.

“I want that corner of the garden.”

And when you are done with the soul killing experience you get back to those who were also with you during that whole time you were busy instructing the gardener.

“Why do you want that corner of the garden?” I replied to my nephew who asked me the third time about that corner of the garden. The gardener was very keen in providing him that corner.

“I want to plant a tree over there.”

“We will…” That was the gardener.

“Why do you want to plant a tree in that corner? I asked my nephew that question and when he replied in a very determined tone, I got the point in an instant why the gardener was halfheartedly cleaning the Autumn mess and why he was showing keen interest in providing my nephew that corner.

The little world was Visionary, unlike me and that was the Power of Vision. Though, the Vision was not based upon Sound Ideology.

“Because that corner is safe for a tree to grow money instead of leaves.”

 ……………………………………………………….

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

“I’ll let you know but first you need to inform me with:

What is the Vision of this Company?

The Purpose of that Vision?

How is this Company going to achieve that Vision?

On what Ideology the Company’s Vision is based upon?

And in the next 5 years where does this Company see itself?

The HR guy could not blink his eyes for quite a while when I said those lines.

The Old School!

‘Hey bro! Do you have a lighter?’

‘Yeah sure, here you go.’

I always had a lighter with me no matter what. Friends and other people often asked me for one. While handing them over the lighter, a dialogue always appeared in my head:

‘Talha, you should have a pen. You ask daily for one.’

Yes. When someone asks me for a lighter, this lighter asking question takes me back to those school/college/university days when I never bothered carrying a pen. I always asked my friends for a pen or a pencil or whatever to write down some important quote of my teacher or some assignment submission date but, not for good.

There was a time when we used to make our handwriting very beautiful. We used to learn and practise. I don’t know if that is still taught in our schools but I remember there was a learning copy to practice some slant looking handwriting with sharpness and perfection. A lot of people failed to achieve that perfection in writing and teachers usually quoted that particular student:

‘Are you crippled?’

Or

‘Did you write with broken hands?’

We used to ask other students from different schools over social gatherings that how is your handwriting? Especially we used to look upon those who has the talent to write with that slant looking handwriting (People at that time named that style Joining Handwriting and I still don’t know the real name of that style). Perhaps, there was a trend of joining handwriting then.

I don’t remember the last time when I used a pen or pencil to write down something useful. This office word is doing all the writing jobs even in our very national language (Urdu) (Inpage). After a long gap, I just wrote down something and I stopped at the very first word. The reason was I had forgotten the spellings.

Cannot blame auto-correct (Because it’s only my fault) but, that was very tense for a while and I felt something strange while writing. I just focussed upon my handwriting and penned down some quotes with different styles (Personal). Though, I just wrote some random quotes (Not mine) but I realised just by holding  I was flooded with many ideas – what should be written, selection of words, how the execution will be done and most of all the thoughts hit you with more clarity.

You never remember your teachers’ sayings until and unless you experience them yourself. This whole experience of pen holding reminded me of my BRAND’s teacher who taught us Brand Management and Consumer Behaviour, once he told us:

‘I usually get great ideas while I’m sitting on a commode, that’s why I have kept a pen and a writing pad permanently in my washroom.’

And once during the Jumma Prayers, Imam Sahab said:

‘There are two occasions where unintentionally thoughts are generated in your heart and mind. One when you go to the washroom when the nature is calling and second during saying you’re Prayers.’ 

I’m not saying to dump your computers but just coming up with a suggestion not to forget the basics. In fact, move along with the basics. After all, this new post of mine is just an outcome of that pen holding experience. :) 

Nobody is an easy believer these days so I will suggest all of you especially those who are professional writers; if you are assigned a job to write something, anything; take a pen/pencil and a paper. Complete the job with your general knowledge and then come back to Google, open up Word on your computer and start typing what you have saved over a piece of paper with your old or new pen/pencil. During typing the content on Word or Inpage, you will get the difference. But, to feel that difference, you need to try it first. Take a look at the quotes:

If you are a smoker and you don’t have cigarettes, then you must have a lighter because you never know when you get one to light a fire (This example is just to make you understand not to encourage you for smoking, quit smoking for good). Same is the case with the writers, they must keep a pen and a paper in their pockets because they never know when an idea is going to strike them.

‘Hey bro, why you never keep a lighter?’ I always ask such folks this question, and what’s in their head usually revealed as:

‘Because, we have YOU!!!’