There were managers from different companies who were there to attend workshop. We all were waiting for host to start workshop and there was an aura that could be felt around. The presenter of workshop walked up to writing board and wrote Who Am I? and asked all managers to take 10 minutes and think on it and keep answers to ourselves. There was pin drop silence in room and everyone was thinking answer of that, that was a moment to be heard, there was silence all around, but too many voices could be heard in silence, as everyone was talking to themselves. This first question was really an eye opener.

The second big value that we learnt was importance of Behavior. The presenter just became manager and told us that we all are employees, some of participants smiled, and he became more harsh saying that he doesn’t like anyone to smile in his presence, this sounded so odd, but he was making himself clear as to how a deep impact one has on colleagues whom managers work with day to day and how important it is to learn as to how important behaviors are and to listen ourselves with ears wide open as to how we interact. Another lesson learnt.

I stepped up to edge and looked down. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath... and jumped in head first.

The summer I turned 13 was spent at swimming pool. We swam at a huge olympic size pool with three diving boards at one end, two low dives and one high dive.

I had bragged to my friends that I could execute perfect swan dive off high board. Eventually, I was challenged to prove it. No problem. I believed that I could. In my imagination, I saw myself walking to edge of board and launching! I believed I could that is until I began to climb ladder. At top I realized I had gotten into more than I could just jump out of. It was a lot farther looking down than looking up. I started to back out, but next kid in line was at top of ladder yelling, “It’s my turn!”

I heard sound of other kids playing safely at ground level. I looked and saw mocking smiles on faces of my friends. I took a deep breath and dredged up my courage and jumped in head first.

For a moment, my dive was perfect. Then my feet flipped over my head and I landed with a terrific force in most awful belly flop you could imagine. The wind was knocked out of me so badly I thought lifeguard would have to fish me out.

I failed miserably, but I learned something. I learned to keep my big mouth shut. I also learned that sometimes best way to reach your goals is to jump in head first. I have since learned that when you do accomplish your goals, your successes will affect many lives other than your own.

I read about a head firster recently. Anne and her brother Jim were a brother and sister with big problems. their mother died when they were young. Their alcoholic dad just disappeared. Anne legally blind, was only able to make out blurry shapes. Jim had a tubercular hip and walked with crutches. No one knew what to do with them so they were disposed of at poorhouse in Tewksbury Massachusetts.