Priorities drive our life

Apart from our skills, it is our priorities that define our life. Let us set them right by correct planning.

I was a software engineer earlier, and apart from other things, it was setting priorities that made me successful both in my personal and professional life then as well as now.

In the current era, many people are highly skilled but don’t give enough importance to set their priorities right. This is what sets them back in the journey of life. This is why I feel one should set this right before doing anything else.

Get it right

My late grandmother was a great planner and always ensured that she noted down all the things that were needed before anyone began doing anything, whether it was instructing the cook or purchasing anything before setting off to attend an event. 

As she knew that some people including herself were rigid about their prayers, she ensured that a prayer mat and god's pictures were carried everywhere. “Everybody’s time is important so we should make our priorities right by not troubling anyone” was her guiding principle in life.

So much so that she was always invited by our extended family to do the project management of all the mega-events. It is from her that I learnt the art of prioritising what is important in my life.

For instance, much before I was due to deliver my first child, I prioritized finding a suitable house help who knew all about caring for babies which made a huge difference.

In my work also, I ensured that I did the most important tasks first and hence was never caught in a tight spot.

A well-known example quoted even by managers all over the world is the way the dabba system works in Mumbai. The dabbas are exchanged to get to the right train line first and this works like clockwork. This system has been quoted even in management books as most of the dabbawalas are illiterate and are trained to understand how the system works. They know what is the most important factor here, which is time. They don't cook but deliver the tiffins to office-goers regardless of the weather conditions. The people from whom they take the dabba are also told the precise time. They prioritise time management as trains in Mumbai run absolutely on time. It is well known that no dabba is left behind or not delivered to the client on time. 

A company or a society works well only if we get our priorities right. A parent who focuses only on his work often becomes a parent with a dysfunctional family. The reverse is also true when a person focuses only on their family and neglects their work. Life is like a company with many departments that need to be  incorporated properly. This is where planning and keeping things arranged in proper order is very important. The order is extremely relevant whether we are cooking a meal or leading our life. The fact is all areas of our life need to be given importance and prioritised properly.

So,in life and in companies, it is always setting the right priorities that make sure we succeed.