Whenever I transition to a new environment, I take time for self-reflection and engage in thoughtful introspection. Composing this concise blog post is one such self-reflection.
In a new place or a company often requires starting all over again; old job titles, contacts may not be relevant. You are out there building new contacts, navigating new systems and bureaucracy, proving yourself all over again.
I was new to the system and language when I moved to Germany. A good friend once asked me if I felt demotivated to start all over again. My answer was no. I don’t get demotivated because I am not defined by the things I don’t have control over, but rather by my experiences and life lessons.
At that time, it was already my 4th country where I lived for an extensive period of time, so I had learnt enough to know what true independence is. Whatever I don’t fully own or am not in control of is always temporary. Like the job titles, it can be taken away. True independence or self-worth doesn’t come from holding on to things; it comes from knowing who you are without them.
Always remember, A sense of selfhood is not borrowed; it is developed and cultivated over time. True freedom comes when you no longer need the world to validate your worth. When you’re there in that moment, give your best, and when it’s time to move forward, walk with utmost humility and unshaken.
At times things don’t have to be done all at once—one step at a time, just start and keep going. The key to remember is showing up, taking action, and putting in the effort to evidence the progress. Have the mindset to learn and adapt all along the way even if progression deviates from expectations.
Actions build momentum, and momentum opens the door to the treasure of opportunities that were never envisioned at the starting point. In my early 20s, I had full focus on only one thing to complete my master’s degree in an American institution. Once I fulfilled it, I thought I was smart. Over the period of travelling and living in many other countries across continents, I realised that the smarter you are, the better you are at either convincing or providing excuses at taking yourself out of action.
Not taking action at the right time feels comfortable as you put off the imminent risk. Many individuals, societies, and companies are rewarded for bold decisions. For example,
Elon Musk took risks by investing in SpaceX when it faced financial struggles and SpaceX is pioneering reusable rockets.
Oprah Winfrey took action to build her own media empire, becoming one of the most influential figures in entertainment.
However, important things to remember are-
Discipline is necessary in life to generate consistent, systematic action.
Action helps to engage with people and learn from their wisdom and life experiences as well.
Track progress and remediate with corrective actions
The starting point should never be forgotten; remember not to blindly compare with others, and not to cut corners, as everyone has a different starting point.
Last week, I came across a profound example of situational awareness.
It’s the story of a young boy in Michigan who was hailed as a hero for his remarkable presence of mind. The boy’s father received a call from a police officer detailing how his son responded to the school bus driver experiencing a medical emergency as the bus began to swerve off the road. This young boy got up from his seat, took control of the steering wheel, and applied the brakes, bringing the vehicle to a safe stop. All the children on board were unharmed.
What’s striking about this story is: why didn’t any of the other students notice the emergency situation? It turns out to be a stark reflection of our present age– students in the bus were engrossed in their mobile media devices, headphones, fingers flying across screens. Yet, amidst the undivided attention to media devices, one boy remained present to the moment, instantly recognizing the emergency and responding decisively to save lives. The simple difference? The boy didn’t have a mobile media device.
The consequences of screen addiction cause a loss of situational awareness. I call the “screen addiction” a “Distracting factor”.
This is such a powerful lesson in situational awareness. This is how I would interpret situational awareness –
Perception– This is about actively being present and using your senses to observe the “different elements” around you – the person, events, and objects in your environment. In the bus scenario, the person is the Bus driver, the object is the Bus, and the event is the bus swaying off the road. The boy was aware of the bus driver, the movement of the bus itself, and the changing environment around them.
Comprehension– Beyond simply noticing, it involves understanding how these perceived elements are interacting with each other and grasping the significance of those interactions. The boy understood that the driver’s behavior was causing the bus to move erratically, signaling a problem.
Anticipate– This final step involves predicting what might happen next based on your current understanding of the situation. The boy sensed the immediate danger of the driver losing complete control and foresaw the potential for a serious accident if no action was taken.
As a leader in the Cloud and Connect domain and an Automotive Engineer, I see these principles of situational awareness playing a key role in complex & dynamic systems as well. For example, I’ve made key contributions in the development of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), essentially technological implementations of heightened perception (monitoring network traffic), comprehension of network patterns (understanding normal vs. anomalous activity), and anticipation of potential security threats (predicting and flagging malicious behavior).
Furthermore, understanding the challenges faced by traditional industries, such as manufacturing and the automotive sector, is essential for leading disruption. A key factor in navigating this landscape is maintaining business “situational awareness” – avoiding distractions like excessive risk aversion or internal politics that can cause a company to lose sight of genuine customer needs and emerging market trends.
What are your thoughts on the role of situational awareness in our increasingly digital world? Have you experienced moments where being present made a significant difference?
There is a common misconception that individuals who choose to change their career path lack focus or direction. Too often, the spotlight is placed solely on their need to learn new skills or building fresh networks, while the real value they bring is overlooked.
What’s often missed is,
The depth of wisdom gained from diverse experiences
Their adaptability and ability to unlearn and relearn
The fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose they bring into their new roles
I’ve observed the career journeys of friends, colleagues, and public figures who have made bold moves to redefine conventional norms. Their stories are not only inspiring but also reflect resilience and vision.
Some notable examples:
Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder, left a lucrative Wall Street career in computer science inspired by the emerging internet boom of the 1990s he saw an opportunity to innovate and reshape the future of commerce.
Steve Jobs, in his famous 2005 Stanford commencement speech, recalled that just after one semester he dropped out of college. However, he took an interest in a calligraphy course in college ( One might wonder what has calligraphy got to do with software)— this skill came in use when Mac was built with multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts.
Julie Spellman Sweet, formerly a practicing attorney, went on to become CEO of a tech firm Accenture. In one of her interviews, she highlights that every time she makes a choice it is always about re-inventing herself.
I’ve collaborated with ex-servicemen/ Veterans who served their respective countries successfully and took on complex corporate roles, bringing with them deep experience in real-time decision-making and strategic thinking.
In the early 2000s, the telecom industry was disrupted, leaving many professionals, driven by uncertainty, to pivot into the IT and automotive sectors. I had the opportunity to work with some of these individuals—brilliant minds who brought passion, vision, and a hunger to innovate during a time of transition.
These examples make one thing clear: that career change is often not just a necessity but a gateway to creativity, growth, and relevance. What ties these individuals together is their ability to creatively solve complex problems and their desire to live a life aligned with their principles, core values, and sense of purpose—whether it’s empowering the next generation, challenging the status quo, or creating meaningful change.
In early 2005, I visited the stunning Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an Indian archipelago that remains one of my most cherished holiday destinations.
These islands hold countless remarkable stories: of brave freedom fighters from India’s colonial era, the struggles of World Wars, the devastating 2004 Tsunami, and some of the world’s oldest surviving indigenous tribes.
The devastating tsunami was one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. A massive 100ft wave, part of the Asian Tsunami, ravaged the Indian Ocean’s coastlines, claiming many lives across 14 countries. In India alone, official reports recorded 10,749 deaths, with 5,640 people missing and countless others left homeless. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands bore the brunt of the destruction.
Yet, amid the tragedy, most of the indigenous tribes and local wildlife survived unscathed because they sensed the danger early and moved to higher ground. Meanwhile, many others, caught unaware in their daily routines, were swept away. This stark contrast is a powerful reminder of how crucial it is to stay attuned to nature.
Today, humanity is increasingly captivated by and dependent on technology, often at the expense of our innate instincts, letting artificial cues override our natural body clocks.
There’s no denying technology’s incredible benefits; it has undeniably enhanced our lives. But as we embrace progress, we must nurture our intuition and maintain harmony with the natural world as opposed to the artificial world.
As a leader exploring AI’s potential in decision-making, I often reflect on this balance. While data and algorithms offer invaluable insights, I’ve learnt not to underestimate the wisdom of my inner voice.
In a common business environment, you might have heard some colleagues expressing –
“I wouldn’t like it this way”
“I wouldn’t do it like this”
“I wouldn’t subscribe or buy this product and services if it doesn’t meet my expectations.”
These expressions even if they are well-intentioned, are rooted in personal preferences and experiences. Passion combined with a broader perspective enriches the decision-making process. It is also possible that many colleagues possess excellent decision-making skills, honed through diverse life experiences and working on various companies and projects.
For professionals, it is important to understand:
The geographical distribution of our customers across regions like Asia, Africa, Europe and so on….
Customer segments by age and gender, etc., and how they interact with products.
The evolving needs of customers in a rapidly changing world
The types of competitor products our customers use and the reasoning behind their choices
These insights will serve as a guide to professionals who are involved in product development and customer engagement reminding them to prioritise “customers” over “I”, and by doing so, businesses and their employees can make effective decisions at the right time that align with customer behavior & their preferences.
“I (Customer) wouldn’t like it this way”
“I (Customer) wouldn’t do it like this approach”
“I (Customer) wouldn´t subscribe or buy this product and services if it doesn’t meet their expectations.”
Communication through language and words has been irrefutably argued as the greatest power humans possess. Our character is shaped by the way we use words-Words can heal & comfort, or they can tear someone down.
When I moved to Germany for work, we moved to a small Bavarian village. My German Language skills were mostly limited to vorstellung, kaufen, bestellung….
I fondly cherish the small talks with people from different walks of life whether it is people from different nationalities or people who contribute immensely to community building. These kinds of conversations give me insight into their daily struggles, what matters for them the most, and most importantly give me a perspective.
To my surprise, I discovered that despite my limited German language abilities, I could still have deep, meaningful conversations with the people around me. How was that possible?
Conversations are not just about words. It’s also how approachable one is, kindness, empathy, and respect for the other human being often shows in your body language. It is shown in the way you greet another person or in the way approach one another with a gentle smile and sincere eye contact.
I would like to share a couple of enduring conversations-
First experience: I was attending a workshop event in a nearby city just before Christmas break. In those 2 days, I was greeted by a very kind front desk staff, and we exchanged small talk in German. On the day I was leaving, I approached the front desk staff and went to check with her to book a taxi. Whilst waiting for the taxi, I started to discuss holiday plans. Of course, in between I was stuck with limited German vocabulary, however, that didn’t stop us from having a good heartfelt conversation (sometimes with the help of a translator app). We were so excited to talk about our family, and where we come from. She also made sure to see me off by walking with me to the main door when the taxi arrived and that’s so sweet.
During one of my business trips to Wolfsburg, I hopped on a taxi from the office to Hauptbahnhof. The taxi driver was a non-German, he immediately guessed me to be an Indian origin. Again very interesting conversation in my broken German with the proud father of a daughter who is studying at university. You could see it in his face a sense of pride on contentment.
I was recently hospitalized to fix my wrist with multiple fractures. After my surgery, I shared a room with an elderly Bavarian woman. She looked at me with so much care, checking if I was doing okay, especially at times when I was distressed with pain.
I couldn’t be more grateful for these lessons in humility and kindness. Moving to a country with a different language and diverse culture has shown me that true connection goes beyond words—it lies in how we approach others, with empathy, sincerity, and warmth.
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