The quintessential manager

It is said that evolution happens in stages. And that each stage continues for over a period of time before change inadvertently happens all over again. For me it was first the single girl, then the frenzied bride, then the blushing bride, then the new wife and now the quintessential manager. Phew… never realized that in a short span I would be subjected to these many stages of evolution.

First was the single girl with absolutely no worries. Well at that stage the biggest worries were just about looking your best. Then came the frenzied bride. At this stage it was all about getting everything ready at all times. It was all about long shopping sprees…selections…..invitations…. lunches….dinners and what not. It always revolved about making huge lists…and then ticking off every item of the list. Then was the time for the blushing bride whilst in the midst of all chaos had to always the one smiling. It was always about keeping your best foot forward no matter the inconvenience. Anything and everything that annoyed you was supposed to just brushed under. Nothing was supposed to shake off the façade of cool. Then arrived the dawn of the new wife. All the time was about learning the ropes. The likes and dislikes.. the favorite foods... the new rules. It was basically a new beginning tinged with apprehension and tad bit of homesickness.

All these stages passed away pretty quickly before the arrival of the quintessential managers. They had it bang on when they said women make better managers. Ahh the pain of managing everyone and everything around you. You are at times the master-chef at times a novice. At times the guilty and at times the juror. But most of the times you are the manager. You get a crash course in taking everything with a pinch of salt. The princess of yester years is suddenly just a plain jane. Where once you were the ruler of dominion, now you are lucky if people recognize you. Where once it was all about you, you now place everyone before you. All this we take with a smile. Managing now becomes second nature. Without a conscious thought you are ready to smoothen the ruffled feathers of those around you. You are now programmed to handle every criticism with a smile….. every praise with an indifference. Be it the newly formed relations or the ones you brought along with you, you are now forever managing everything….doing your best to ensure nothing disrupts the delicate balance. You just build a house with a stack of cards and hope to hell that a gust doesn’t blow it away.

This is the story of a girl who is now a woman….. but it’s the story that’s been repeating itself throughout the ages with little change…