Career Building and Character Building Go Hand in Hand [#Short Story]

 

Career & Character Building - She Knows Her Mind

By Viji Bellie

A taxi dropped Vincent in front of the magnificent gates of that reputed office. The office was situated in a metropolitan city. The office campus gave a status symbol to its employees.

   On the way to the security cabin to complete the regular formalities, Vincent examined the campus. The plan of the building and the architecture was simply superb. Vincent realised that ‘man’ was taking huge strides in every field. Otherwise how could he come up with something so amazing? That work part of a task seemed to be simple for him. On other hand he had no idea about the nature and feeling of his own family members and his neighbours. And this emotional part of life seemed to be very difficult for him. What a strange mindset! This brought a smile to Vincent's lips.

As he finished his formalities at the security cabin, he smiled at the security officers, thanked them for their attention to detail and headed towards the main building. The security cabin crew was surprised as they never expected a man like Vincent to respect their work. It was a fact that generally they were not given much attention.

   But for Vincent, by God's grace, right from his school days through college he had been blessed with amazing teachers who gave priority to humanity through their respective subjects. They were his role-models. The Director of his previous educational institution where Vincent completed his post graduate degree, always kept reminding students to give respect and take respect.

  The Director used to say that, the security guard is the prime employee to any concern as only he can permit entry to any great organization. ‘The security team guarantees the security of the concern as well as the security of the employees. So learn to respect them. Teach your children to respect them’ he used to say. Vincent pondered his words.

   From the security cabin to main building, it was a fifteen minute walk. It seemed impossible for Vincent to walk alone. The building was swarming with people, but still strangle all of them were in their own worlds. He looked around. A group of people were walking towards the main building. A majority of them seemed to be divided into groups and they liked to talk only among themselves. A lot of people were walking alone even though they were having their colleagues walking alongside with them at their arm's stretch. May be they were belonging to different departments. But this seemed to be not fair. They were all working under one roof. They must have shown some familiarity with each other through their warm smile. But they were walking alone as if they were strangers to others and as if others were strangers to them.

   On seeing this, Vincent again remembered the version of the Director - that one who lacks the ability of mingling with people means he also lacks the ability of learning or moving ahead in life because communication is a basic human trait. Only by moving with people freely we can learn more about ourselves and others. This in turn influences more inventions and discoveries in human relations thus forging a positive bond. The whole process would be more helpful in our life time. And also it helps us to learn what to take and what to let go for our career building and character building.

     Vincent introduced himself to some people who were standing as a group. They looked like they a considerable work experience. "Hello I am Vincent. This is my first day in this office. I think you all are highly experienced in this field. I am very glad to meet you." He shook his hands with them. They gave a pause and looked at his bright face with warm smile and they instinctively responded to him. He slowly started making friends.

     12 months passed. All these months Vincent was the same old Vincent with a beaming face. His close friends knew the reason for it. As a fresher Vincent was compelled to have hot drinks in the week end parties. When he refused to take, his friends mocked at him to the core. "Are you still afraid of your parents? Or still you are depending on them? Are you a wall with no wishes or still are you in the opinion that you are a child?"

      Pat came the answer from Vincent. "Yes! my friends internally I am a five year old. Externally I am a sixteen year old student. My beloved grand father gave me this healthy suggestion which helped me a lot. My internal 5 year childhood mind is plain and simple with no complicated ill feelings like partiality, jealousy, unnecessary comparisons, over confidence or under confidence.”

       After a pause, Vincent continued, "My grand father told we must always be in the learning process. According to him the suitable age to understand and appreciate what learning is, is sixteen. He told me to assume myself as a five year old internally which helps in keeping my mind plain and fresh and sixteen externally which helps in the learning process with no diversion.

       And it helps a lot in due course of time. Whatever road you take your mind would be vivid. It helps you distinguish what to look and what to over look. And also it depends on the intensity of your positive rapport with your mind. The mega power of the mind will make everything possible to get positive results. In the process you become a gentleman who everyone would want to know and be inspired.”

        Vincent continued. “Now my grand father is no more. But his words still guide me. If I am looking as a mocking stock and if you people feel that I am not fit for your friendship circle where a girl friend and cocktail parties are necessary then, I am sorry. I am leaving. But I really wish you people know those blissful moments one day or the other."

        His friends were silent. As Vincent got up to leave, he knew that his friends would definitely think about what he had said earlier. Their minds were ready to open to the infinite positive possibilities of their lives. 

Image Credit : Pixabay