Always leave office on time

After Abdul Kalam, 11^th President of India, passed away on July 27, 2015, people all across the world started circulating his words of wisdom more than ever on various social networks. I have heard and read about Kalam and his significant contributions in the fields of development of missile and vehicle technology since my school days.

Later, I came to know that the recipient of India’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, had authored several books and also had his many biographies written.

His wisdoms are being circulated in the world – in the form of cards, quotations, messages and letters. I have received many, but one message has touched me deep. So this post is all about this particular card, Abdul Kalam’s wisdom, Always leave office on time.

In the past, I read this but it didn’t have the same impact like it has on me today. Perhaps more tellingly it has to do with relevance because today I am working and this wisdom is very relevant to me.

In the card, “The Missile Man of India” writes down seven important points why we should always leave office on time. The first two points are: 

1)  Work is a never-ending process. It can never be completed;

2)  Interest of a client is important; so is your family.

A new trend is picking up in Bhutan, especially in urban areas, many of us are becoming workaholic. We stay late long hours in our office, workplace. We even work on weekends and holidays; not once in a while but quite often.

We lead a work-based way of life; we are being known by our works or workplaces or the types of works we do. Balancing between work and family life always becomes a challenge, and most of us lose ourselves to work. If not working, we are playing archery, parala, and involved in other insignificant activities.

Quite surprisingly, there are people - your own bosses, managers and proprietors - who want you to stay late in office and work. Even if they don’t insist on you, but they still feel happy to see you doing that.

For that matter, Kalam goes on to say, “A person who stays late at the office is not a hardworking person. Instead he/she is a fool who doesn't know how to manage work within the stipulated time. He/She is inefficient and incompetent in his work.”

Although this point is debatable, yet I fully agree with it. Because too much of too much is not good, you know it well, because being workaholic is the recipe for bad life.

The best part of this message is when he states, “Life is not only about work, office and client. There is more to life.”

In fact, we need equally good time to socialize, entertain, relax and celebrate our life with our beloved family members and friends. I think it would make our life less complicated, less stressful and we become happier person.

This is what touched me too deeply, “If you fall in your life, neither your boss nor your client will offer you a helping hand; your family and friends will.”

Our life is fragile and tender; it is very precious too. Let’s not waste it shunning ourselves in our office all time and building wall against our beloved ones. We never know when we will fall in life.

Indeed, besides office and work, there is more to life.

Pictures courtesy: google