My Reflective Journal: Friday the 13th – Bengaluru to Chennai

A bit like “Bombay to Goa”, less amusing, thanks to the coronavirus scare

Traveling to Blore airport, the traffic was very light (a rarity for BLR, notorious for its slow-moving traffic.)

Airport is buzzing with activity, but not as crowded it usually is. Indigo counter is not crowded too, for a change. While many passengers have their masks on them, Indigo employees at the counter are not wearing the masks, a usual day at work! Courteous, smiling & professional.

I am pleasantly surprised to see there are so many types of masks available in the market, including a few branded. Saw one group wearing a ‘sophisticated’ (how sophisticated can you be with a mask?!) 3M branded mask. The brand, known for its innovation, had to be at the forefront.

The aircraft is half-full – not half-empty 😃 trying to be optimistic, though the airline industry is staring at a tough quarter.

At the airport, picked up a book to prepare for the upcoming trip to Thiruvannamalai. Already looking at next weekend plans!

Working from the airport, not the comfort of home: As I cleared my mails, caught up with my colleague… we took a big step in our plan for the company.

We went live with the registration for our first global webinar. We opened the registration, online. If coaching is a buzzword in India, we are also seeing a lot of interest in team coaching. In between perhaps is Coaching SuperVISION. How some of these concepts tend to occupy our mental space, sometimes the ‘marketeers’ pitching one against the other… all are important, to serve the coachee. (Not the coach!)

As long as we coaches keep the interests of the coachee, and the politicians focus on the citizen, and corporate, the interests of the society, then there is no virus 🦠 , within or around.

I am allotted a middle seat (cutting costs!). Next to me a is Korean lady, on the aisle 😧 . I sat on the window seat, hoping that seat is not taken by any passenger. Very soon a passenger boarded and claimed the seat. He was not amused to find me on his paid-seat! Thankfully the lady was not coughing, nor sneezing….. and hope, she did not travel from her home country, today.

Chennai airport was normal, hardly anyone wearing masks. I wonder how #fear is forcing many to adopt these preventive steps! And the masks are not really ‘preventive’, medically.

At Chennai, Rajinikanth has given clarity on his political plans, yesterday. The newspaper headlines says, ‘Never wanted to be a CM’. What usurped my attention is the next line, “ want to create new leaders”. Is this not real leadership? The primary role of a leader is to create more leaders. Political leadership has long forgotten this, sadly. #Serve2Lead has to be the focus.

The superstar does a Rajinikanth on leadership

I check into a new service apartment. My favourite apartment, with very good energy has wound up. Now I am checking on alternatives. This time it is a new one. The room is ok, but a bit cramped, clean though. Today cleanliness is the top priority. The place hardly has space for my morning stretches.

A luxurious place was once booked for Rajinikanth. He said he wanted a simple room where he can sleep and do his morning yoga. I look for those basic facilities, also hygienic. My taste is a bit like that these days, zen-like! But with all these platforms to book rooms, the quality I seek is difficult to find!

My yoga ‘mat’ for next two days.

Lunch at Dakshin@CrownePlaza is super luxury. Great food, veg thali. Beautiful, traditional ambience. Soulful flute recital.

The artist played a song me, when the artist was told by the bearer I admired his music 🎵 🙏

As I gear up for the 2 days’ training sessions starting tomorrow, over the weekend, a few of ‘confirmed’ participants have opted out. It is breaking agreement, in letter & spirit, a pillar of coaching. A key element of coaching relationship.

Is it the fear of the virus, or the ‘virus’ of not giving priority to ourselves, our need to learn & grow?

Wonder why there is so much fear about the virus🦠 ?

When we are fearful, our immunity level goes down and the risk goes up. Take precautions. Trust our immunity, divine grace.

PS: “Bombay to Goa” – These short trips are easy, not expensive and convenient. Constrained to fly, feel guilty for my contribution to the air travel pollution