Smelling the Flowers 4

In the last posting on flowers, we explored Saba Afghani’s view that “The beauty of a garden is not solely from the flowers, but also the thorns.” [http://nuur-e-faanuus.blogspot.com/2006/06/smelling-flowers-3.html ]. Gumnaam also explores this concept. Similarly, in our project activities we will experience painful moments as well as joyful moments of success.

I have enjoyed the thorns’ prick and also the flowers’ fragrance.

In periods of pain, my heart both cried and laughed.

Surendar Malik ‘Gumnaam’

कांटों की चुभन पायी फूलों का मज़ा भी

दिल दर्द के मौसम में रोया भी हँसा भी

सुरेन्दर मलिक ‘गुमनाम’

کانٹوں کی چبھن پائ پھولوں کا مزہ بھی

دل درد کے موسم میں رویا ہنسا بھی

سریندر ملک گمنام

When we are in a difficult point in a project, we must remember that we can push through to get back into a more positive and happy position.

The Project Manager's Life 30

In the last posting, we discussed the issues associated with falling walls and rising suns. Shahid Kabir gives another perspective on the issues of being overly aligned with any particular person. This is particularly appropriate in projects where it may be easy to be overly reliant on a stakeholder who is perceived as being the dominant player and making independent decisions. There may be a false sense of security created by standing in the shadow of such a person’s influence.

Whether it is of sand, bricks, stones, or earth,
Who can trust the shadow of a wall?
Shahid Kabir

रेत की ईंट की पत्थर की हो या मिट्टी की
किसी दीवार के साये का भरोसा क्या है
शाहीद कबीर

ریت کی اینٹ کی پتھرکی ہو یا مٹی کی
کسی دیوار کے سایے کا بھروسا کیا ہے
شاہد کبیر

When the wall crumbles, those standing in what was believed to be the protection of its shade may get injured as well.

The Project Manager's Life 29

In organizational relationships with projects, we frequently witness changes in managerial authority. Someone who previously was highly esteemed and who exercised authority may suddenly be falling from grace either because of his own performance or because of organizational politics. Inevitably, someone who is the new rising star will appear. While it is tempting to abandon the manager who is loosing favor and rapidly align oneself with the new star, Muzaffar Warsi advises us to take a more conservative stance.

I am a sympathizer of the falling wall, but
I do not worship the rising sun
Muzaffar Warsi

गिरती हुई दीवार का हमदर्द हूँ लेकिन
चढ़ते हुए सूरज की परस्तिश नहीं करता
मुज़फ़्फ़र वारसी

گرتی ہوئی ديوار کا ہمدرد ہوں، ليکن

چڑھتے ہوئے سورج کی پرستش نہيں کرتا

مظفر وارثی
परस्तिश, پرستش = worship हमदर्द, ہمدرد = sympathizer

Remember, what goes up will eventually come down. Rather than trying to enhance our positions by riding the coattails of others, we should focus on maintaining good relations with all with whom we are associated and control our own rise or fall on the basis of our performance.