ONE cold morning as I drove my car out, the tyre pressure monitoring system started blinking rapidly. It was warning me that the rear right tyre was losing pressure fast. I had to quickly find a safe spot to park. But by then, it was too late as the tyre's sidewall had burst.
As it was a busy area, I called for professional help in order not to pose a danger to anyone should I attempt to change the tyre myself. It turned out that a small screw had punctured the tyre. Someone may have carelessly disposed of it, causing a hazard to other road users. It was just a small puncture but enough to permanently damage the tyre.
An hour later, I was back on the road. However, I'd missed my appointment and had to reschedule. The incident reminded me aboutof the importance of the cause-and-effect principle in our lives. Our actions will impact someone, somewhere, in various ways. No matter how small the job or how insignificant the actions are, the impact could be big to someone else. A small puncture will eventually immobilise a big car.
While what I experienced was just a small tyre puncture, what if those "small punctures" were to occur in bigger things that mattered in our lives? If left unchecked, the impact could be huge and may even sink our "cars".
NOT INVESTING IN LEARNING
Take learning, for example. Many adults stop learning after they've obtained their certificates, diplomas or degrees. Learning is a process whereby small bits of information are accumulated over time to form a more complex structure. By itself, each bit may appear small and insignificant, but put together they become a complete and comprehensible data.
If we keep ignoring those small bits by making no effort to read or attend courses, we'd soon find it hard to keep up with our rapidly changing world. The small punctures will become bigger and soon, our car — the career — would stop at the roadside. By then, it would require a huge effort (and loss of time) just to bring us back to the path of learning.
PEOPLE SKILLS
When it comes to our social life, we'd be headed for disaster if we pay little heed to basic social etiquettes. Minding our manners, learning how to get along and watching our words are some of the important elements behind successful social interactions among colleagues and families. Small problems in any of these areas can lead to bigger issues later.
For example, a rude employee will get a client to write a damaging review. A selfish person will not be able to get along with anyone, thus missing out on all the fun. A staff who likes to create little lies will find himself creating even bigger lies before ending up in hot soup.
The list is endless. People have gotten into big trouble for a totally small, avoidable reason. Don't get into this trap. Take work seriously, no matter how small. We never know how big of an impact it can make to others.
Zaid Mohamad coaches and trains others to bring out their best while enjoying a peaceful, purposeful life. Reach him at [email protected].
