Dear Readers,
Can you honestly say that you have never cheated? One may perhaps like to think that one is squeaky clean and above board, but this could be because of the Fudge Factor.
Forbes, First Anniversary, India Edition is a delight to read. Some of the people whom I look up to such as Mohd Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, Arun Maira, who decided to join the Planning Commission, Subroto Bagchi, Vice Chairperson and Gardener at Mindtree Limited and one of my favourite people, Soli Sorabjee, to name a few, have all contributed to this edition.
I've read a few articles and am yet to read others. So far, it is an article by Dan Ariely, Prof Behavioural Economics, Duke University that made me sit up and think.
I have often wondered why good people cheat. Perhaps they don't realise it, or perhaps they have rationalised their action. Perhaps even I may have cheated and rationalised my action, so that today, I have to scratch my head and think hard, when I question myself: Have I cheated.
Dan Ariely explains: A lot of people cheat just a little bit. They cheat only to the extent they can continue to feel good about themselves and rationalise their action. You can call it the Personal Fudge.
Well Personal Fudges committed by a lot of good people, little at a time, all the time, really damages our society.
Perhaps we need to step forward carefully and weigh in each and every action of ours. Believe me you, a Personal Fudge may be palatable to us, but it would cause harm to our society and even to us personally, even if this isn't obvious immediately.
Dan's article has give the phrase: Look before you leap, a new meaning to me.
(I am a loyal reader of this magazine and the fact that I have many good friends there has not coloured my opinion, Forbes India is really amazing).
Have a nice weekend.
Best regards,
Lubna
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3 hours ago
3 comments:
Dear Lubna,
Great post and I wholeheartedly second your opinion about Forbes India being an amazing magazine! Am eagerly looking forward to receiving my copy of the First Anniversary Issue.
I enjoyed reading this interesting article by Mr. Dan Ariely in Forbes :
http://business.in.com/interview/rotman/dan-ariely-hidden-forces-that-shape-our-decisions/9292/2.
And when you talk about being 'squeaky clean', this one was good too:
http://business.in.com/article/greyscale/when-no-ones-watching/2002/1
Take care and have a great weekend.
Regards,
Geetha
Hello Lubna,
I agree it's not a good thing to 'cheat' even for momentary gain. It's like cheating our own self. As this surely will affect our character and lower our self esteem.
Regards.
Dilip
Yes. Its a swell magazine.
Hmm why do people cheat? Methinx because they feel inadequate to fullfill the need and think a little fudge will ease. Some by habit. Too many reasons really.
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