During the summer breaks I usually meet up with my granddaughter Kuttus either at her place in Fremont or at my native town. Irrespective of the venue, we have a variety of subjects to talk about and dispute. Kuttus is nine years old, and a very interesting person. She studies in 4Th grade in Fremont.
It was during the last summer break in Fremont. We were sitting in the backyard and sipping a glass of orange juice. Mornings and evenings are comparatively pleasant here. Suddenly she asked me, “Grandpa, I have lot of things to learn from you, can you please help me?”
I said, “Oh sure, go ahead.”
“I often come across with the phrase, do a complete job, what exactly it means?”
“Now, you tell me what you understand from this?”
“Suppose I am doing my homework; I should complete the homework before doing anything else.”
“You are right, but it’s applicable to anything and everything.”
“But how is it applicable to everything, say playing, eating, cycling, swimming, reading, brushing your teeth, to mention a few?”
“Ok, I will explain it by giving examples of few activities.
(1) You get up in the morning, pick up the brush and toothpaste and start brushing your teeth. After brushing, you move to the next activity. The brush and paste are lying near the wash basin; they have not gone back to the original place. Even the tap is not fully closed – this is an incomplete job.
(2) You go to the dining table for breakfast; finish your breakfast and start thinking what to do next and move on to the next activity. The plates and dishes are still lying on the table, and no one is there to take care of this – this is an incomplete job.
(3) Thought of reading the book for some time, which you started reading the previous night. You go to your room, pick up the book and start reading. After an hour you get bored, thought you will cycle in the backyard for some time, and move to the next activity. The book has not gone back to the shelf. The table lamp is still burning – this is an incomplete job.
(4) You go to the garage, take out the cycle and start cycling in the backyard for some time. Now, it’s time to go for swimming class and you move on to the next activity. You get ready and go to the swimming class. The cycle is still lying in the backyard – this is an incomplete job.
The situation is worse in the case of multitaskers. Most of them start each activity with full enthusiasm and get lost in the midway. You cannot give quality time, focus and concentration to all activities at the same time, unless you plan everything meticulously. Many people don’t give much attention to complete the job. Some think that it is not their job at all, some others are busy in day dreaming. Day dreaming is not always bad, but it is not so good at the cost of incomplete work. It’s a burden for everyone.”
“Is it not a burden to keep so many things in mind, before winding up each activity?”
“Yes, it is a burden if you do not do it then and there. But if you complete each activity then and there, there is nothing to keep in mind. But always keep in mind that if you start any activity, it is your responsibility to make sure that it is completed in all aspects.”
“You are telling this, as if there is no extra effort involved at all.”
“Yes, once you are habituated to do a complete job, everything comes naturally. You don’t find it a burden anymore. Everything falls in place on its own.”
“Ok grandpa. Most of the time I try to complete my job then and there. But sometimes I forget. There is scope for improvement. The concept is very useful and as you said, I will make it a part of my habit. I will guide some of my friends who often find it difficult to cope up, as they leave their jobs unfinished.”
