It’s been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It’s a rule.

Globalized processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish.

They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

1. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants

2. Stockholm has 500,000 people

3. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, are some of its renowned
companies. Volvo even supplies NASA.

The first time I was in Sweden , one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees arrive in their car to work).

The first day, I didn’t say anything, neither the second or third days. One morning I asked him, “Do you have a fixed parking space? I’ve noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot.” To which he replied, “Since we’re here early we’ll have time to walk, don’t you think that whoever gets in late will need a place closer to the door?” Imagine my face.

Nowadays, there’s a movement in Europe named Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing. Slow Food is against its counterpart, Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.

Basically, the movement questions the sense of “hurry” and “craziness” generated by globalization, fuelled by the desire of “having in quantity” (life status) versus “having with quality”, “life quality” or the “quality of being”.

French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has come to the notice of USA , the pupils of the fast and “do it now” brigade.

This no-rush attitude doesn’t represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means re-establishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the “now”, present and concrete, versus the “global”, undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans’ essential values, the simplicity of living. It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive work place where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It’s time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence.

In the movie, ‘Scent of a Woman’, there’s a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, “I can’t, my boyfriend will be here any minute now”. To which Al Pacino responds, “A life is lived in an instant”. Then they dance the tango!

Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious to live for the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”.

Congratulations for reading this email till the end of this message. There are many who will have stopped in the middle so as not to waste time in this “Globalized” world..

Life Is ,yes, Short,
Break The Rules, Forgive Quickly,
Kiss Slowly, Love Truly,
Laugh Uncontrollably,
And Never Regret Anything

That Made You Smile.
Life May Not Be The Party
We Hoped For,
But While We’re Here, We Should Dance…

Have a Wonderful Day!

Article Source: Bangalore Dhamma Group

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Slide 2: Determination

Slide 3: Courage

Slide 4: Confidence

Slide 5: Compassion

Slide 6: Loyalty

Slide 7: Strength

Slide 8: Selflessness

Slide 9: You. (not anyone else!)

Slide 10: © Keep Walking – Thirumurugan

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What else? Read an interesting conversation between quibbler and skeptic to understand why things are shaping this way.

Quibbler: The world has started to look more colorful from the day of its inception almost 12 years back.
Skeptic: It was bound to happen.
Quibbler: How?
Skeptic: Well, we are closely trying to emulate the real society on internet. After all, internet is made up of real people, so real substance has to follow. People will do the same things on internet as they do in their real lives. Means, they will interact with friends, network with people from similar profession and read a lot.
Quibbler: Ok! got it, but why it took so long for people to start using the internet as the medium to go and start living their virtual lives on internet.
Skeptic: Back in early days of the web, it all started with an email. People just started to explore the web as a medium of communication. They started writing emails to their friends, fellows and colleagues. It was to-and-fro communication. People were just starting to explore the thrill of instant communication. Afterwards, came the chat where you could communicate with other people in real time. From society point of view, it was still insufficient. See, we have to evolve as a society on the internet. The real society interacts in a very different way. We have a network of people to connect with with whom we share laughter, sorrows and have fun. Email and chat were insufficient to fill the gap because of their exclusive nature to connect with one person at the time. Even though conference and multi-chats were in existence, they were still not able to create the impact.

…to be continued

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