A traveller with empty pockets...

Pretty simple, huh? Who is this guy with empty pockets? Someone we know? The guy we met at the bookstore yesterday or the guy next door? Nopes. He can be anyone. Anyone who is not concerned about the consequences. "Who dares wins" sort of guy. Such people do exist. And you might walk into one such person in your office. Seriously. Has the guts to say what is right. Has the chutzpah to upset the egos of many folks. Has the intellect to begin a rousing discussion. And the panache to end it in an abrupt manner. Most importantly, doesnt flinch one bit when asked to join the "fire fighting" at work....

Does every workplace need such people? You bet. Why? Because they get the job done? Yeah. And ?? Because they are not scared at all of the consequences of their actions. How often do people behave in a manner not natural to them? How often do people not speak up against what is wrong? How often do people not act to correct a process which they know is inherently flawed? And they dont speak or act simply because "how might someone else feel?" or "oh, i dont want to hurt someone" or maybe "my boss might not like it". Even better, "this might not fly with the executive". Give me a break. This fear is a mirage. An innovative organization never frets over frank and forthright opinion. Even the worst of "updates" are taken in a positive manner. In the right spirit. Only that workplace which houses "I love my job and how things are today" kind of people discourages honest and free expression of thoughts. A place full of people who are never ready to take steps to introduce corrective changes to the so called "process"....

Furthermore, what kind of role do such travellers enjoy? A position from where they can "shake up" things. Not necessarily being a leader of the troupe or the show manager. But sort of a playmaker on a soccer field. Some job where there is creativity and enough freedom to exercise it. And bring about real progress. Set up the play so that the strikers score the goal. Finally, what is the most common attribute of all such people? You can put your best foot forward to put them down. Bureaucracy. Boredom. Blockages. And lots of frustration too. They will never back off. They will pull on...And eventually win. A traveller with empty pockets can whistle in a robber's face....And whats more..will live to tell another interesting tale many years later.