Aspiring high and failing fantastically

Yesterday night before hitting the bed, I had a mild epiphany on a work-related decision which was in a hung state for two weeks. I decided whether I am going to the London event, Refresh, or not I will earnestly complete the visa processing activities. I told myself: I will get the visa and whether I book the ticket or not will depend only on the arrival of the visa. I will not let the indecisive nature of my environment complicate it.

I woke up early. I meticulously went through the checklists and collected the documents, arranged it neatly. I was done by 7:30 am itself. I thought if I go ahead and stand in the queue, I will be done before 9 am. I flew through the traffic which was not existent at all. I was in line at 8:15 am. It was there; I realised one big thing. I had all of my documents except for the passport.

It was a genius move of mine, where they say in a classic manner of missing forest for the trees. I was so focused on the minor details, and I missed the major and the only important thing needed for this activity.

I rushed back home, collected the passport and returned to the visa centre. I had lost 60 minutes in this hustle. When I had entered the queue at 8:15, I saw my colleague who was standing just before me. I realised I missed my passport and hurried back home. When I came back in at 9:30 am from home, my colleague had completed all the formalities, and his work was done. He was the person, whom I aspired to be and failed flat on face.

That 60 minutes of delay cost only 4 hours for me 😔. Entering at 9:30 am, I could finish all the work and get out only at 1:30 pm.

In product management, we try to be cautious about the one-degree error. The assumptions made and decisions taken during the early stages without thoughtful consideration having a massive impact at a later point of time and in an irreversible manner.  Today was an exhibit of the one-degree problem in real life. Thankfully I learnt the lesson in a single day itself.