Don’t follow the calf path

Don’t follow the calf path

Five years back when I was starting my professional career my manager gave me one task. After completing the task, I went to him with the result and after some conversation he just told me 'Don't follow the calf path'

I was just like 'Ah...”§$%°"§%&$§". I did not understand what it means.

He observed my face and asked.

'Bhai...Did u understand?'

'No' I said.

Then he explained a story to make me understand and believe me even today I will be recalling this phrase and the story.

I would like to share this story to you all and dedicate this blog to my manager, from whom I have learnt many things; he has a great wisdom and talent in management.  We used to call him RKG (R.K.Gupta, L&T). Thanks RKG for sharing your knowledge with us...

Story behind the phrase:

The calf path is a famous poem in English, written by Sam Walter Foss. It gives a message how a calf has walked on the grass and left the trail behind. Others followed the trial and one day it becomes the street for the village.

 

What does he mean by don’t follow the calf path?

Little rewind: Task which was given to me was not so complicated. The result turned out to be as expected by me. After explaination of my results, he asked,

‘How did you solve?’

'I used the solution given by my senior colleague' I said.

Then he told 'Don't follow the calf path' and explained

Don't always try to do as others do...

Use your intellectual and talent to solve the task/problem. Calf path may not be the shorter distance. There may be some other route which is shorter and efficient way to reach the destination. Find out that route. Or make a new path of your own.

Think out of box.

Find new way to accomplish the task.

I always believe that there is more than one solution for every problem, just we need to see it from different view and we need to tackle it in our own way...

Wish you all a happy thinking...

Yours

Jeevan