Work Lessons from an Autorickshaw Driver

Today morning I missed my Office Bus by a whisker and was pretty pissed with myself.Anyone who has been/lived in Chennai would know the dread with which we approach the Autorickshaw wallahs here. They are a breed apart( I recently read an interesting blog which portrays Chennai Autos on the next GTA game - Temple City). After repeated failed attempts to get one's attention with my flailing arms I was ready to give up.

As i started to walk to a busier junction to be in a better position to catch one,a Shared Auto(the niche segment within Autorickshaws- describing which would take another blog post)braked right in front of me and asked "Evvalo pokallam Sir?"(Where do you want to go,Sir?). Beaming at being given a Lordly status(Sir Vivek Menon)I replied- "Shollinganallur". To which he smiled and said "Sorry,Injambakkam vare drop panni"(I can take you till Injambakkam only). Knowing that it was close enough for me to catch another Auto i got into the Shared Auto.

Sitting uncomfortably in the front with the Driver as he started off(The back was packed with 5 passengers already)I was hoping I wouldn't cramp my back or something.A few minutes into the ride I see my Driver starting to sing loud to himself and move his hips and wave at every traffic constable and fellow Auto Driver as he passed them by.I saw him not only humming the latest Tamil hit but also drumming his fingers on the gears and kicking the brakes and accelerator in tune.

Looking at him I felt as if I was seeing something very familiar. To my surprise i realised what that familiarity was. I was seeing Myself - or atleast an almost exact replica of myself - Singing and Dancing when I am very excited with the work I'm doing. Same drumming on the desk,Humming of the latest hit number and basically to any onlooker looking like making a fool of myself. This while only I knew I was coming up with my best work.I gave him a big understanding smile and asked him how many years he had been driving the Auto and why was he so happy right now? He told me he had been driving for almost 20 years now and that this is how he was all the time. He believed that this was this work and doing it cheerfully with a song in his heart was the only way he could keep on doing it day in and day out.

Wondering to myself I thought,I have just stepped into my professional career and its hardly once in 3 days i find myself in the humming and singing mode. How often would I be in this mood 20 years from now? I dream of being as happy as the auto wallah with my work 20 years down the like. Currently I'm singing and humming even when I'm sending an almost insignificant email. Can't loose out on the mood can we??

*Courtesy: The Hindu