Director: Ryan Murphy
Writers: Ryan Murphy (screenplay), Jennifer Salt (screenplay
Stars: Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem and Viola Davis
Plot: A married woman ends her marriage, after realizing that she hasn’t found what she is looking for. She embarks on a journey to look for what she is looking for – eat, pray and finally LOVE.
MbyM: We all have it in us – they virus – to find our true self. Some are week and remain in their comfort zones, others are bold enough embark a painful journey of Self-discovery!
The inner conflict prompts Liz to ends hers marriage, gives up what a stereotype woman wishes all her life - a career, a husband and steps out her comfortable marriage only to fall in the arms of her rebound David (James Franco).
In organizations too change is painful, not readily acceptable and often resisted, since it creates dissonance in people’s comfort zones and organisation’s profitability. The search for peace and happiness – inner balance is so coveted “state” by individuals and organizations alike.
Confused, lost and searching for answers, she is reminded of the prophecy of the medicine man, having a baby, eating Italian food, following a spiritual path in India. The quest for self-discovery starts with a divorce. Her husband is reluctant to divorce, for the same reason – she is divorcing him! FEAR OF REJECTION and SOCIAL JUDGEMENTS.
The organizations too carry on their legacy system and keep on serving the unprofitable markets because of the fear of the social (competition) judgements and feeling associated with incompetence and incapacity.
In Italy, she discovers the essence of having a vision, What’s your Word – the word that defines YOU and the pleasure of doing nothing - “Dolche farniene!”
Translating, these in the context of contemporary organizations, the role of having a vision – what’s your word – I have deliberated on this with my clients, specifically at the times of acquisitions, mergers and takeovers. That word really defines and resurrects an organization in the time of crisis. Recently, in an envisioning exercise with the tops managers of a energy majors in India, the vision of the company underwent a bathos change. It was then put to the board, who complimented the managers for their Guts.
“Dolche Farniene” has been best exemplified by Google, who wants their employees work only 4 days in a week, the fifth is given to experiment with their own projects. Google swears that about 30% of the products are incubated in that one day given to the employees for their own projects!
Slack Resources, is a tight rope walk for organizations, when the scrutiny on the bottom-line is mandatory in these times of recession and financial frugality. Many organizations are thinking of innovative ways to do the same.
In India, she discovers the power of prayer. The process is nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. Disappointment at first, “Being at the source – I feel disconnected”, is quickly complemented with the wonderful advise from Richard Jenkins, “you’re wasting time groceries (Liz) if you’re waiting for him to forgive you – FORGIVE YOURSELF!
The meditations in India were an attempt to reflect the purpose of her life. As they in spiritual literature, we all have been programmed by a supreme order – Physics of Life, Oder of God. To discover it early and to pursue the purpose is the soul. “God dwells in Me as ME!” know this, understand it and be aware of this EVERY second of your life and your LIFE will be as perfect as you want it to be! Jenkins leaves her with a last piece of advise "don't give up on love". Later, in Bali, she is successful in amassing 18,000 USD for a house for her healer Wayan in Bali. As she puts it, “when you set out to help yourself – you end up helping tutti (Italian for Everybody).
The self-less service for the benefit of all, which she learns in India, transforms her to enjoy in the present moment. Realising, Happiness NOW, is all that is required for her to Forgive Herself. In a flight of imagination her husband comes and dances with her – she is set free. She realizes her mistakes, that her husband wasn’t bad, it’s the feeling of waiting or incapacity to take the lead Yourself!
Organisations, have had the similar experiences, paralysis with analysis, often leads to inaction and procrastination by the corporate boards and managers alike. I am reminded, of Amul, credited for creating Operation White Flood (Milk Cooperative) in India. The organization, not only did good for itself or its members, but changed the corporate environment in India. It’s an example of an organisation changing the environment and not the other way round!
Enjoying, and staying in the present moment, also releases the pressures of controlling the factors of future, which controls the performance. Staying in the present, and being effective and efficiency is all the organizations require to tackle change in future!
In Bali, similing within, and as put by the medicine man, “even your LIVER should SMILE”. With much practice and discipline, she comes to terms with her inner conflicts and the balance she seeks. Realising the most important thing in your life and getting it is a blessing. And when you do get it; hold on! As the advice comes from the medicine man, “sometimes to loose balance for LOVE, is a part of Living Balance in Life.
Organisations, too loose this balance for their advantage. From a strategy (planned approach) dictating the structure of the organization they started asking their CUSTOMERS. The customer-centricity led to the strategy of the organization being decided by their customers. Emote with them, knowing their needs and finally falling in Love with your customers. And isn’t THIS, the LIVING BALANCE for any organization? LOVING ITS CUSTOMER!!
Let me know, what you think, till next week – eat pray and love and make your organizations “attar-verse-amo” – cross over (in Italian) the chasm of death (failure)for ourselves and our organisations!!
