AS a teenager, I quite often faced pimples, and sometimes a single pimple sprouting out ofmy face could wreck my confidence, my evening and even make me lose a date! I remember an ad that used to come out, “If pimples are your problem, use Clearasil!” Tons of the product must have been used by us in those days, and yet forests of pimples sprouted! Pimples were a problem and still are. Inmy bookDare, underthe chapter, ‘Dare to Move On’ I’ve mentioned how I’d sat on the board of a religious magazine. How one day, the board made up of supposedly spiritual leaders were angry with me: I’d asked for an emergency meeting since I’d discovered the treasurer, a priest was signing blank checks, left at the office for the staff to use at their discretion, and horror of horrors,the second signatory also had signed on many of the same blank cheques! So here weretwo, waiving their responsibility on lakhs of rupees. I was then given a letter by the poor employees, sayong their Christmas bonuses had been cut by the chairman. The disappointed employees pleaded withmeto rightthe wrong, and as secretary I realized I had to bring all these discrepancies to the notice of the board. A chartered accountant who had no right to attend the meeting was called to attend the meeting attheinvitation ofthe frightened chairman. “Bob!” said the CA with a crafty smile, “This problem is only a pimple!” This morning I heard the magazine and trust was being closed down under the chairmanship of the very man who had signed the blank cheques. I felt sad when I heardthe news but realized how often we ignore pimples and face a forest fire later! So many pimples: Children who cheat at games, later swindle a bank and land in jail! Girls or boys who take no responsibility in their childhood homes and are thought of as cute, later become irresponsible husbands, wives and parents! Priests who fail to look after small parishes or churches, become bishops and are found wanting! You cannot ignore the pimple. It shows bigger rot underneath. And I cringe as I hear the CA’s voice, “It’s only a pimple!” “Sir, when we hide those pimples, sweep them under the carpet, camouflage them, under heavy makeup and cover,they flourish and grow monstrous, ugly, loathsome and evil!” If you are looking at what you think is a small pimple in your organization, trust, family or company, don’t ignore it.With water, soap and plenty of courage start cleaning and scrubbing, so same pimple won’t grow to a magnitude it can’t be dealt with. If pimples are your problem, deal with them now..!
