Tuesday, January 24, 2017

The Cascade Effect

Let me start with how I realized about what I call "The Cascade Effect". I was living in Bangalore and observed that a couple of Bus Stops were immediately after the NIMHANS traffic signal. As the signal turned green a BMTC Bus crossed and stopped at the bus stop. Another bus stopped just behind it. The third bus driver chose to go ahead of the two buses but stopped the bus at a 45 degree angle thus blocking more of the road that was already 35% blocked. The signal turned red again without too much traffic flowing. I was headed to my office for an important meeting. I got late by 10 minutes. There were 6 people waiting on me. So effectively I wasted 60 man minutes. Or I must say the improper action of the BMTC Bus driver was responsible for wasting a lot more than 60 man minutes assuming many more would have been in a similar situation like mine. Or I can blame it on the poor design of Bus Stops and inadequate infrastructure which would have had many repercussions over a long time period.


But what I learned that day is that our actions can have far broader implications not just on ourselves but on others too. And these others might be completely unrelated to us. I realized that it is very important to give a thought about how our actions can impact us, our loved ones and others. However the really good part about The Cascade Effect is that it amplifies not just the negatives but also the positive or good stuff we do. If someone goes out of the way to help you then most likely you would go out of the way to help someone (not necessarily the same person) and it continues.


So the gist of it is, consider the long term impact of your actions. The bad you do will go far longer that what you imagine BUT the good you do will also go further that what you could think of. Thus it makes all the more sense to watch out and curtail anything negative. Needless to say "Never miss an opportunity to do something Good". It will multiply man folds.


May the Love of God continue showering on all of us.

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