When celebrated and hugely talented, talismanic South African cricketer, AB De Villiers retired from international cricket yesterday, there was legions said and written about his cricketing prowess and breath-taking records by players, writers, peers and veterans of the cricketing fraternity world over. However, overriding it all was the adulation for a modern-day super-star with grace and humility rarely seen on the field and off it, who’d never let any discordant note or controversy surround his actions, and admiration for a role-model, playing a ‘gentleman’s game’ !
Accepting that AB D was extraordinary and a class apart, what happens in the lives of normal people who call it a day. It’s often seen that after their proverbial long innings of professional life and that stint from the seat of power and authority is over, most people slowly become relics and their names get submerged only to remain in the record books having served in the institution once upon a time. The ‘Ex’ factor stops being exciting whether attributed to a Boss or a partner/friend !
It’s not always that the compulsive ‘out of sight, out of mind’ theory is intentionally followed, for the world must move on and new must replace the old as a natural consequence. But even with the dynamics of change, some old faces, voices, acts, names and memories linger on because of that intangible asset they created in their time – called ‘goodwill’ !
The world of accounting looks at this concept of ‘goodwill’ as the value of a company’s brand name, solid customer base, good customer relations, good employee relations and any patents or proprietary technology. Break it down to core human elements and we have those stand-out qualities of amity, benevolence, altruism, grace and human compassion which create that ‘goodwill’ which keeps alive the memory of a person long after he/she has gone. Appreciative, humane, compassionate and the friendly, irrespective of positions they held, spread happiness at work making others around feel nice and wanted. They are truly missed when they leave and faces light up in recognition if they happen to walk in !
However, some individuals, specially those occupying high positions in their professions or organizations, very involved in clinging on to their authority and sense of entitlement and cut-off from the lives of people serving under them, assume that the same largesse will continue when they demit office. It’s amusing but ironic that many top executives have been seen lonely and unsung after the trappings of power are gone. It was a shock to a retired Top Boss, known to be irascible and curt to staff in his heydays, when juniors and subordinates didn’t stand up and even acknowledge his presence – it was their idea of pay-back time !
It’s not about being the best on the job but making a difference to the lives of the people and making it better and happy. Finding goodwill is a journey and not a destination – it’s not tangible but makes you so rich !
Working on Living 