I-Become Booklet-Developing Contributor Personality

Swami Vivekananda
Contributor Personality Program
An Adani Group Initiative
UNIT 1:
Who is a Contributor?
...Values + Effectiveness
for students and faculty of

Gujarat Technological University
by
University
Services
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UNIT 1:
Who is a Contributor?
...Values + Effectiveness
Who are Contributors? How are they fundamentally different

from Non-contributors in their overall approach to work, to
other human beings, to society as a whole? Explore these
ideas in this unit.
Swami Vivekananda speaks to you pg. 2-5
Concept Exploration pg. 6-11
Concept Application pg. 12-23
Field Work (projects) pg. 24

UNIT 1: WHO IS A CONTRIBUTOR?
Swami Vivekananda speaks to you
“What is personality?” Life Snapshot 1
The young Narendranath Dutta

(later Swami Vivekananda)
“
A man comes; you know he is very learned, his
language is beautiful, and he speaks to you by
the hour; but he does not make any impression.
Another man comes, and he speaks a few words,
not well arranged, ungrammatical perhaps; all the
same, he makes an immense impression. Many of
you have seen that. So it is evident that words alone
cannot always produce an impression. Words,
even thoughts contribute only one-third of the
Ancestral home of Swami
influence in making an impression, the man, two- Vivekananda in North Kolkata
thirds. What you call the personal magnetism of Narendranath, was known for his keen
intellect and prodigious memory. He
the man — that is what goes out and impresses you. acquired a thorough grasp of various
subjects during his school and college
Life Snapshot 2 years, especially Western logic,
philosophy and history. He questioned
the validity of superstitious customs and
Meeting his Guru, Sri Ramakrishna
discrimination based on caste and refused
to accept anything without rational proof
and pragmatic test.
“ In our families there are the heads; some of

them are successful, others are not. Why? We
complain of others in our failures. The moment
I am unsuccessful, I say, so-and-so is the cause
of the failure. In failure, one does not like to
confess one’s own faults and weaknesses. Each
person tries to hold himself faultless and lay the
Dakshineshwar Temple, Kolkata
blame upon somebody or something else, or
In his college years, Narendra went about
asking many religious leaders of the time even on bad luck. When heads of families fail,
whether they had a direct experience of
they should ask themselves, why it is that some
God, but could not get answers which
satisfied him. His quest brought him persons manage a family so well and others do
finally to Sri Ramakrishna. Thus began a
guru-disciple relationship which is quite
not. Then you will find that the difference is
unique in the history of spiritual masters. owing to the man — his presence, his personality.
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SWAMI VIVEKANANDA CONTRIBUTOR PERSONALITY PROGRAM
Life Snapshot 3
Wandering Years
“ Coming to great leaders of mankind, we always

find that it was the personality of the man that
counted. Now, take all the great authors of
In 1891, the Swami embarked on a 2-year
the past, the great thinkers. Really speaking, long journey of exploration and discovery
how many thoughts have they thought? Take of India. During these years, a mission
grew in him. He said, “I have travelled all
all the writings that have been left to us by the over India. But alas, it was agony to me,
my brothers, to see with my own eyes the
past leaders of mankind; take each one of their
terrible poverty and misery of the masses,
books and appraise them. The real thoughts, and I could not restrain my tears! It is now
my firm conviction that it is futile to preach
new and genuine, that have been thought in this religion amongst them without first trying to
world up to this time, amount to only a handful. remove their poverty and their suffering...”
Life Snapshot 4
“
At the Parliament of Religions, Chicago
Read in their books the thoughts they have left
to us. The authors do not appear to be giants to
us, and yet we know that they were great giants in
their days. What made them so? Not simply the
thoughts they thought, neither the books they
wrote, nor the speeches they made, it was something
In 1893, Swami Vivekananda made his else that is now gone, that is their personality. As
debut on the world stage when he opened
I have already remarked, the personality of the
his first short speech at the Parliament.
His first five words – “Sisters and Brothers man is two-thirds, and his intellect, his words, are
of America ...” – resulted in a standing
ovation of several minutes by nearly six
but one-third. It is the real man, the personality
thousand present there. From being a of the man, that runs through us. Our actions are
wandering monk with no credentials to
speak at the Parliament, the Swami was but effects. Actions must come when the man
lionized by the press as an “Orator by is there; the effect is bound to follow the cause.
divine right” at the end of his lectures.
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Life Snapshot 5
Travels in America & England
“ The ideal of all education, all training, should

be this man-making. But, instead of that, we are
always trying to polish up the outside. What use in
polishing up the outside when there is no inside?
The end and aim of all training is to make the
man grow. The man who influences, who throws The Swami’s lectures took the West by
storm. Between 1893 to 1896, Swami
his magic, as it were, upon his fellow-beings, is a
Vivekananda laid the foundations of
dynamo of power, and when that man is ready, Vedanta in America and England. England
contributed to him very valuable friends
he can do anything and everything he likes; that and disciples who were to play a very
personality put upon anything will make it work. important role in his work in India.
Life Snapshot 6
“
Rousing Reception in India
Now, we see that though this is a fact, no
physical laws that we know of will explain this.
How can we explain it by chemical and physical
knowledge? How much of oxygen, hydrogen,
carbon, how many molecules in different
positions, and how many cells, etc., etc. can
explain this mysterious personality? And we still
see, it is a fact, and not only that, it is the real
The home-coming of the Swami was a great
event in the history of Modern India, for man; and it is that man that lives and moves and
a united India rose to do him honour. For
works, it is that man that influences, moves his
about 4 years the Indian public had been
made aware that the Swami was doing the fellow-beings, and passes out, and his intellect
great work of presenting and interpreting the
glories of the Eternal Religion and to carry her
and books and works are but traces left behind ...
banner throughout the Western nations.
Life Snapshot 7
“
Lectures from Colombo to Almora
... Think of this. Compare the great teachers
of religion with the great philosophers. The
philosophers scarcely influenced anybody’s inner
man, and yet they wrote most marvellous books.
The religious teachers, on the other hand, moved
countries in their lifetime. The difference was
made by personality. In the philosopher it is a
faint personality that influences; in the great
prophets it is tremendous. In the former we touch
the intellect, in the latter we touch life. In the one
case, it is simply a chemical process, putting certain
chemical ingredients together which may gradually
combine and under proper circumstances bring
out a flash of light or may fail. In the other, it is like
Swami Vivekananda once again crossed
a torch that goes round quickly, lighting others. the land of India from the South to the North,
as he had done formerly as a wandering
monk. His lectures in Madras, about half
Life Snapshot 8 a dozen in number, form the core of his
message to India. He exhorted Indians not
to condemn their social past and take to a
Impact on India’s Leaders
life of imitation of the West. Nor should they
“I have gone through his works merely exhalt the past and refuse to move
very thoroughly, and after having forward. A society which combines Indian
gone through them, the love that spirituality with the Western technical
I had for my country became a advancement is the ideal held forth before
thousand-fold.” his countrymen.
– Mahatma Gandhi
“
“Swami Vivekananda harmonized
the East and the West, religion Each one can grow and strengthen his
and science, past and present.
personality. This is one of the great practical
And that is why he is great.
Our countrymen have gained things, and this is the secret of all education.
unprecedented self-respect, self-
reliance and self-assertion from his
This has a universal application. In the life
teachings.” of the householder, in the life of the poor,
– Subhash Chandra Bose
the rich, the man of business, the spiritual
“Where can you find a man like
him? Study what he wrote, and
man, in every one’s life, it is a great thing,
learn from his teachings, for if you the strengthening of this personality…
do, you will gain immense strength.
Take advantage of the fountain of
wisdom, of Spirit, and of fire that Excerpt from a talk “The Powers of the Mind” delivered at
flowed through Vivekananda!” Los Angeles, California, January 8, 1900
– Jawaharlal Nehru
Concept Exploration
EXPLORATION 1:
The Contributor Teacher is concerned

Contributor
about bringing out the best in each
student. Such a teacher cares about the
future of every student, and whether they
have built confidence in the subject.
“Payal, do you The Non-Contributor Teacher is

feel confident to
do the sums?” unconcerned whether students are
paying attention or have understood
Non-contributor what is being taught. Such teachers run
through the syllabus, but are disengaged
“blah
blah …” from their students. Result – students find
these classes boring.
INSIGHT: In their work, contributors demonstrate concern for the human beings they
serve.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Write down about any one such contributor who demonstrates human concern in his/her work.
EXPLORATION 2:
The Contributor Government Official

Contributor
ensures that a common citizen is able
to get his work done. She goes all out
to find a solution for the person and
does everything within her power to
accomplish it.
“Don’t worry sir, when your
payments are released, I will
send it to you”
The Non-Contributor Government Official
is indifferent and does not bother to find a
solution to the common citizen’s problem.
Non-contributor Such officials may do their duty and follow
“Sir, my rules, but they make a common citizen
file ...”
run around from pillar to post. They don’t
care whether the work gets delayed and
people find the interaction painful.
“ I am very busy right now.
Please check again in 2 weeks
time”
INSIGHT: Contributors go all out to try and find an answer. They take responsibility for
‘making things happen’ in any situation.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Write down about an experience you have had with such a contributor, who took the responsibility
for “making things happen”.
EXPLORATION 3:
The Contributor Sweeper cares enough

Contributor
to ensure that the living environment is
clean for people in the locality! She has
a wider view of her work and doesn’t just
see herself as “sweeping kachra” – she
takes pride in her work of creating a clean
and hygienic environment for the people
Only if the area is kept clean
the people will be able to lead a who live there.
disease-free life …
The Non-Contributor Sweeper sees her

Non-contributor work in a narrow way and does it only for
her ‘Dal Roti’. She has no pride or interest
in her job and works like a ‘robot’ without
any feeling. Thus she becomes careless
and “chalta hai” in her work.
My duty time is over… I’m

off for the day! Let the
other sweeper worry about
the remaining “kachra”
INSIGHT: Contributors have a wider view of their work and thus take pride in doing
their work well.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Write down about one such contributor who takes pride in doing even the smallest of work well.
EXPLORATION 4:
The Contributor Team Member always

Contributor
puts the team’s success before personal
success. Such team members are
committed to the larger purpose and don’t
let personal egos come in the way.
The Non-Contributor Team Member

pursues personal goals even if it is at the
cost of team goals. Such people may be
Non-contributor talented as individual stars, but are unable
to contribute in a team environment.
INSIGHT: The Contributor’s focus is on achieving the larger goals of the team, rather
than focusing only on his/her own personal success.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Write down about a team experience you have had, where there was such a person who remained
committed to the larger purpose (without letting personal goals or ego to come in the way).
SUMMARY EXPLORATION:
The Contributor’s Checklist

In any work, the Contributor Personality seeks to
combine –
 Performing work activities well

EFFECTIVENESS
 Achieving the goal
HUMAN VALUES
 Being ethical
 Demonstrating human concern
Look at the case examples shown in the 4 Explorations:

Exploration 1: The Teacher
Which of these do you think would be met by the“Contributor
Contributor Teacher” and which would be met by the “Non-contributor
Teacher”?
Contributor Non-Contributor
Teacher Teacher
“Payal, do you
feel confident to
Performing work activity well
do the sums?”
(teaching well and in an interesting manner)
Non-contributor Achieving the goal (completing the syllabus

“blah on time; ensuring learning goals are met)
blah …”
Being ethical (following the principles and
values of the institution and society)
Demonstrating human concern (caring for

students’ overall development and self-esteem)
Exploration 2: The Government Official

Government Official” and which would be met by the “Non-
Contributor contributor Government Official”?
Official Official
“Don’t worry sir, when your Performing work activity well

payments are released, I will
send it to you”
(doing a high quality job)
Non-contributor Achieving the goal (ensuring the citizen’s
“Sir, my
goals are met; meeting the goals of the job)
file ...”
Being ethical (being honest; fulfilling the

responsibilities entrusted in one’s role)
“ I am very busy right now.
Please check again in 2 weeks
time”
Demonstrating human concern (caring for the
citizen’s concerns; not putting citizens through
inconvenience and hassle)
Exploration 3: The Sweeper

Sweeper” and which would be met by the “Non-contributor
Contributor Sweeper”?
Sweeper Sweeper
Performing work activity well

Only if the area is kept clean
the people will be able to lead a
disease-free life … (cleaning perfectly)
Achieving the goal (ensuring the living
Non-contributor
environment for the locality is clean and hygienic)
Being ethical (doing work honestly; fulfilling
one’s assigned responsibility)
My duty time is over… I’m
off for the day! Let the
Demonstrating human concern (caring for
other sweeper worry about
the remaining “kachra” welfare of the residents of the locality and for
the institution she serves)
Exploration 4: The Team Member

Team Member” and which would be met by the “Non-contributor
Contributor Team Member”?
Team Member Team Member
Performing work activity well (playing well;
putting in one’s best effort; practicing hard to
improve)
Non-contributor Achieving the goal (striving to win)
Being ethical (playing a fair game; with a spirit

of sportsmanship)
Demonstrating human concern (keeping all the
team members’ welfare in mind; caring for the
hopes and aspirations of fans)
REFLECTIONS
Q1. What is the effect or impact of such contributors on…
– the people they interact with and serve?
– the institutions they belong to?
– society?
Q2. “Employers / Organizations value Contributors”. Why do you think this is so?
Concept Application
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1.1:

SCENARIO
The Contributor focuses on ‘we’ not ‘I’
Shylesh and Vikas are project leaders with the responsibility of completing two important assignments. After
the successful completion of the projects, the following is how they think…
SHYLESH is a non-contributor team leader VIKAS is a contributor team leader
I have done a
We have done a
great job here! I must
great job! Each person’s
ensure I get noticed by
contribution was important –
the management - it is a
without that we wouldn’t have
chance for a promotion.
achieved success. In the next
presentation to the management,
I must mention how valuable
each one’s contribution
was.
What about
all that we
did…?!!
TEAM
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Q1. If you were given the choice, who would you prefer to work under? Why?
Q2. What would be the effect of

– a non-contributor team leader (like Shylesh) on the motivation levels and ‘bonding’
within the team?
– a contributor team leader (like Vikas) on the motivation levels and ‘bonding’ within
the team?
Q3. How does a team’s motivation levels and bonding within, affect the ability of the team to
take on larger responsibilities and achieve larger goals? Discuss to answer.
SCENARIO
The Contributor proactively takes up work
Sudha and Satish graduated from their college and started working in an accounting firm. In the first six
months they were trained, after that they were put in the audit department. Usually the audit work is cyclic –
i.e., there are some months where there is tremendous work load (eg: when the financial year is closing) and
there are other times when work is relatively lighter.
SUDHA AT WORK SATISH AT WORK
Sudha did all the work she was given during the Satish worked hard like Sudha during the peak
peak season, but she didn’t know what to do during season, but he did not find the other months boring.
the periods of light work. She got bored and then He thought this was the best opportunity to go deeper
frustrated. She began spending her time gossiping into exploring audit case studies and what was done
with colleagues, often complaining that her work is the world over. He also studied the various cases
boring. his own organization has worked on, and learnt
how to think through issues and also improve the
At the end of the year, during the appraisal, Sudha’s way things are handled. He sometimes even helped
boss told her, “You have not done much in this year.” out other teams in non-audit work. He learnt a lot in
Sudha’s point of view was, “How could I have… you these periods and also helped the organization in
didn’t give me much work to do.” developing its approaches.
During appraisal his boss was pleased! He had

achieved a lot in the one year he was here.
Q1. In the workplace, what are the disadvantages of only looking at others to give
responsibility and work, without taking the initiative oneself?
Q2. Why is it important to take initiative for responsibilities and try out new things?
– How does it help one grow in one’s career?
– How does it affect one’s own capability?
Q3. Work environments are becoming increasingly unpredictable. How will “taking initiative
and responsibility” help us deal with this uncertainty better, in our career? Discuss to
answer.
STORY
The Contributor focuses on the goal being achieved, not just routine work
Brother, why are you

digging holes just to
fill it up again?
Oh, you don’t understand. His

job is to dig holes and mine is
to fill. Usually there is a third
person who plants seeds in the
holes. But he hasn’t come today.
But how can we stop our work ????!!!!!

just because he is not there?
So we continue doing our duty…
Q1. Reflect on and discuss about the pointlessness of their work.
Q2. When one is focused on doing only one’s own part of a job and not focused on the
whole job that needs to get accomplished, what happens? How will this affect the work?
Discuss to answer.

SCENARIO
The Contributor is committed to the responsibilities of his role. He is not a “clock watcher”.
Sunil and Nalin work for a telecom company. Their office timing is 9.30 to 5.30. Late one day, their head-
quarters asks for an urgent report. Their team-mate Rupesh comes to tell them about it…
This report is needed urgently for a sudden strategy

meeting that has been called in the headquarters…
SUNIL NALIN
Lets get down to it immediately! If we

It is already 5.30! Why do
work together, we can accomplish this
they come up with work so late
soon and send it off on time. The meeting
in the day? I am going home!
must be important if they have called for
it so suddenly.
Q1. Reflect on both their responses. What will be the effect of such an attitude, on how each
one grows in his/her own career in the long run?
Q2. People (such as Sunil) who are known to “leave” even when there is important work to
be done develop the reputation of being ‘clock watchers’. How does such a reputation
affect the person and how do people see that person?
Q3. “Employees who are willing to stretch themselves when needed, are valued by team
members and bosses.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? Discuss to
answer.

STORY
The Contributor’s Special: Last Mile Execution
Sumit joined Sun Advertising agency as an Assistant Accounts Representative, one of the junior most positions
in the company. Sun Advertising had the mandate of covering the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of a large
public conglomerate company.
The usual practice was to cover the chairman’s speech at the AGM in all leading newspapers the very next day
after the AGM. These recordings were done live, processed, made print-ready and then sent to the newspapers
for printing.
In 1990, the AGM was scheduled for the afternoon of 4th April in Kolkata. It had
been raining throughout that day. By the time the meeting was over, the city was
completely submerged in water.
After covering the AGM, the team waded through knee-deep water and
reached their office. Their work had just started…when Kolkata had
practically closed down due to rains.
Sumit and his colleague Rohan had the responsibility of finishing this work. The
entire process was taking time. Meanwhile, the Newspaper began making
frantic calls to their agency saying that if the material did not reach them,
they would not be able to issue the newspaper the next day, as a whole page
had been dedicated to the AGM coverage. Sumit promised the Newspaper that
the work was on and would definitely reach them.
The processing work got over close to 10.30 p.m. Sumit contacted the company representative for permission, to
send the speech to the newspaper for printing. The company representative insisted on getting the final approval
from the Chairman. Racing against time, the two boys reached the Chairman’s house close to mid-night. After
getting the approval from the Chairman, they called up the Newspaper and told them, “We will reach your press
in an hour’s time. Hold the printing.”
Close to 1 a.m., fighting through the flood, Sumit and Rohan finally
reached the printing press. The next day’s newspapers carried the
chairman’s speech.
Few days later in a party, the chairman told the head of Sun Advertising,
“Your agency has given us superlative service….and here I am not talking
about the design work – I am talking about the last mile execution which happened after the AGM.”
Based on a true case story
Sumit and team could have blamed the rains and not delivered. Instead, they chose to go all
out to not only complete the task at hand, but also do it well.
Q1. What motivates people to “go the extra mile”?
Q2. Through this attitude, what value did Sunil and his team create for –
– themselves?
– the agency?
– the client?

SCENARIO
`
The Contributor acts appropriately in each situation (unlike Sohan in this case)
SOHAN IN COLLEGE WHEN SOHAN STARTED WORKING
Sohan was bright but mischievous. When teachers Sohan continued in this way… when the boss was
were looking, he would pretend to be attentive. When monitoring his work, he sat at his desk doing work;
they were not around, he played the fool, wasted time, but when the boss was away, he chilled out, distracted
and distracted others, making them laugh… others, went out for tea and snacks…
…this made him popular amongst his classmates. …his organization thought he was wasteful and
They thought he was “cool”. frivolous.
Sohan finds that he is lagging far behind his peers. His performance reviews were
3 YEARS
poor, and even his colleagues had begun avoiding him. Sohan doesn’t know what
LATER went wrong, after all he was just being “cool”…
Q1. What went wrong in Sohan’s life?
Q2. Sohan needed constant monitoring, without which he never accomplished any work.
How would this lack of self-discipline and responsibility affect his future career prospects
and ability to be a leader in the future?
Q3. “Some behaviors that are acceptable in student-life, are out of place in work-life”. Do
you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? Discuss to answer.
1.7: FIELD WORK
Project 1:
Project Goal: To recognize “contributor qualities” in action, and understand why contributors are valued
so much in the work place.
STEP 1: Talk to 2-3 working professionals you know. Ask them for stories of people working in their
office, who they feel are really valued by the people in the organization. (Identify at least 3 good stories).
STEP 2: For each story, find out why the person is valued so much. Ask them for concrete examples
talking about these people “in action”.
STEP 3: Identify the key contributor qualities that are coming out of each of these stories.
STEP 4: Present each of these stories in the class. Also highlight what appealed most to you in these
stories and what you learnt from them.
Project 2:
Project Goal: To recognize “contributor qualities” in action, and understand why contributors are wanted
/ sought after by all who work with them.
STEP 1: Interview someone you know in some leadership position (such as a Head of Department in
your college, or Principal, or some business leader or person in a senior position who is known to you
or your parents).
STEP 2: You can use the following questions as a guideline for conducting your interview–
• For any important project / assignment, what are the qualities you look for in the people you want
on your team? Can you give concrete examples that demonstrate these qualities?
• If you had an important assignment to get done, is there any one person you would definitely want
on the team?
• Why do you want this person on the team? What is the unique value you think this person would
bring in?
STEP 3: Present the results of your interview to explain “What an employer / leader looks for in his/her
people”.
Project 3:
Project Goal: To recognize “contributor qualities” in action, and understand why contributors are wanted
/ sought after by all who work with them.
STEP 1: Talk with your friends who have been involved in some team projects / organizing some events
/ initiatives (eg: college festival).
STEP 2: Discuss –
• What qualities would they look for in the different team members, so as to make the event / project
/ initiative a success. Ask for concrete examples that demonstrate these qualities.
• Why are these qualities important? What is the value of these in the success of the team?
STEP 3: Present the results of your discussion to explain “The qualities of a contributor team member
and the value they bring to their team”.
The material in this booklet is meant to be studied
along with the material available at gtu.ibecome.in
You will find videos, concept presentations, quizzes

to improve your understanding of the topic.
Booklet printed from I-Become ActivGuide

Swami Vivekananda
UNIT 2:
The Contributor’s
Identity

by
University
Services
Downloaded Booklet from and licensed to Career Knowledge Resources Pvt. Ltd, the promotors of I-Become. All rights are
UNIT 2:
The Contributor’s Identity

...Being and Becoming
Develop your own answer to the question “who am I?”
Non-contributors and Contributors define themselves

differently.
Non-contributors usually define themselves in terms of

what they have acquired in life (e.g. qualifications, position,
years of experience, etc.). This is a static identity, based on
your past glories or past failures. This static identity leaves
you trapped in history.
Contributors define themselves in terms of what they will

become or accomplish (e.g. capacity to deliver, commitment
and ownership of the organization’s purpose, etc.). This is
a dynamic identity based on your “being” and “becoming”.
Such an identity lets you choose to live a better future.
Swami Vivekananda Speaks to you pg. 22-23

UNIT 2: THE CONTRIBUTOR’S IDENTITY
Concept Exploration
EXPLORATION 1:
Contributors choose a ‘Dynamic Identity’...

Static Identity Dynamic Identity
An Environmental Engineer who feels... An Environmental Engineer who feels...
… I seek to find solutions

to environmental
challenges
… I am a Gold Medalist
in Environmental
Engineering
INSIGHT: The Contributor’s image of self is not defined by the qualifications and
achievements he/she has got. Rather, he/she thinks of oneself as someone who has
the capability to make a positive difference in the world.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Amit is highly qualified and yet does not contribute much value in his/her work. On the other hand,
Rajat is not highly qualified, but is a great contributor. Is this possible?
Do you know of a similar example? Write about this.
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EXPLORATION 2:

The General Manager of a large The General Manager of a large

company who feels... company who feels...
…I am General …In my role as General

Manager and I Manager, I am responsible for
control hundreds of the goals of the company, and
people for the welfare & productivity
…I and my team
ofmembers
hundreds of people
are working
towards a shared
goal
INSIGHT: The Contributor’s image of self is not defined by “power and position”.
Rather, the contributor focuses on the “responsibility” he/she has been entrusted
with in that role.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Think of any one incident where you approached some person in authority (eg: government official /
policeman / senior manager) for some work, where EITHER (a) the person (non-contributor) treated
you badly because of his/her superior “power and position” OR (b) the person (contributor) treated
you with respect and fulfilled his/her responsibility in getting the work done.
How did that person’s behavior towards you make you feel? Write about this.
EXPLORATION 3:

The gold medalist Microbiology The gold medalist Microbiology

Researcher who feels... Researcher who feels...
… 20 years back I got a gold … I love microbiology and

medal in my subject. I have am excited by all the new
already achieved everything. developments taking place in the
What else is there to do or field. I need at least another 15
accomplish? years more to go deep into the
subject and solve newer
challenges in the field.
INSIGHT: The Contributor’s image of self is not defined by his/her past glories. Rather,
the contributor sees oneself in terms of his/her future potential - what he/she can
accomplish in the future.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Chetan achieved a lot in his career and reached a very senior position - however, now his career has
stagnated. He is bored, tired, and feels there is no more meaning in his work since there is nothing
much left to achieve. Suraj on the other hand, even on his retirement day is all excited, looking
forward to the many new ventures he is planning to begin. His mind is fresh, enthusiastic, and full of
ideas for the future contributions he can make.
Is this possible? Do you know of a similar example? Write about this.
EXPLORATION 4:

The Engineer with over 25 years of The Engineer with over 25 years of
experience, who feels... experience, who feels...
… I have so many years … My 25 years of experience

of experience, so I know has taught me to be open to
everything on the subject. new developments in my field. I
What can a younger have so much to learn, especially
person teach me? from my younger colleagues
in my field.
INSIGHT: The Contributor’s image of self is not built on the pride of “knowledge
gained”. Rather, he/she sees oneself as a “learner” - where he/she is always willing
to learn and grow.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. What is the difference between an expert who believes “I know it all; I must know more than others”
and an expert who believes “I can always learn something, so what if I don’t know it yet”? How will
each of these 2 people react when faced with a new subject / area of work?
Think of examples of people you may have met who are like this, to explain your answer.
My identity / image of self is based on - My identity / image of self is based on -

– Qualifications and Awards – The difference I can make to the world
– Power and Position – The responsibility I carry
– Past Achievement – My future potential for contribution
– Knowledge Gained – My willingness to learn and grow
Discuss in groups to answer -

Q1. What is the consequence of having a static identity?
Q2. What is the value of having a dynamic identity?
Concept Application
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 2.1
SCENARIO
Rakesh and Aman are content experts, and are part of a team that is working towards a tough deadline.
Both have completed their writing work and have handed it over. This is what they do next -
RAKESH AMAN
I am a specialist in content I have completed my part of the

writing. I have completed my work… but I can do a lot more to
part of the work properly. help the team in meeting our goals
I can hardly be of use in any within this deadline…
other way.
Tell me, is there

anything I can
Here, I am submitting help you with?
my part of the work.. It
You’ll look tired! Why don’t we try
is all done! I am going
Can I get you’ll this out… it will help
home now.
some coffee? us accomplish the
work faster…
STATIC IDENTITY DYNAMIC IDENTITY

“I am useful only for my specialization” “I can be useful in many ways - my specialization
is only one such way of being useful”
Q1. Why would Aman be more valued by his team?
Q2. When both Rakesh and Aman come up for promotion reviews, the management selects
Aman for an important leadership position.
Why is this dynamic identity (as Aman had), important for becoming a good leader?
Discuss to answer.

SCENARIO
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f o u th a g lo emo ti o n
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rthik Ra was “br “broken
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b c t o b e r 7, 2008
bin s
Mr. Ro t emotionally
o u n s ta es, O
le b u : N e w York Tim
cap a b
S ource
NEWS FLASH: STOCK MARKETS CRASH
RAJARAM KAMAL
OH NO!!!! I am finished!!! All my life’s OH NO!!!! I have lost so much money! I am sad,
work has come to ZERO… I am nothing, a no doubt, but I have life’s greatest asset -
nobody, a complete loser… my life is over… which is my own inner strength and confidence.
it is not worth living… Using these, money can always be earned again.

“Without money I am worth nothing” “I am a man with inner strength and the
capacity to earn money”
Q1. How does Kamal’s “dynamic identity” protect him and help him overcome tough times?
Q2. The cause of Rajaram’s self-destruction was his “static identity” (or image of self). Why
do you think this is so?
[HINT: Consider –
• How did Rajaram’s “static identity” affect the way he reacted to failure?
• How did Kamal’s “dynamic identity” affect the way he responded to failure?]
Q3. What is the value of having an identity based on “inner strength”? How does it help one
stay on the path of contributorship?
SCENARIO
`
Ketan and Raghav are promoted and transferred to the finance function. They were earlier working in the
accounting department.
KETAN RAGHAV
I have worked only in I know only accounts now,

accounts before... how will but I can always learn what is
I be able to handle my needed in finance. After all, the
responsibilities in the management wouldn’t have put
finance department? me here if they didn’t believe I
could handle it.
How could they put

me in something that
is not my area of
experience?! I am sure
to fail!
This is a
challenge and an
opportunity
to learn.

“I can do only those things which I “I am capable of learning all kinds of new
have done before” things in my job”
Q1. How do you think Ketan will do in his new role? How do you think Raghav will do in his
new role?
Q2. How will Ketan’s identity affect his future prospects in the organization? How will
Raghav’s identity affect his future prospects in the organization?

SCENARIO
TUSHAR’S INTERACTIONS WITH SENIORS SOHAIL’S INTERACTIONS WITH SENIORS
Can you do this Can you help me

for me Tushar? with this Sohail?
Of course sir! I have all

the time for you sir…
Of course sir. I
You are very right will look into it
sir! Yes sir! immediately.
Tushar is servile in front of his seniors.. Sohail has mutual respect for his seniors…
TUSHAR’S INTERACTIONS WITH JUNIORS SOHAIL’S INTERACTIONS WITH JUNIORS
I see you need some help…

Sir I need this
help urgently… Yes sir this is
very urgent and
I am stuck…
You people think you Lets work on it

can come in anytime like together… I am sure
this… I am busy, don’t we will find a solution.
bother me now!
Tushar has a sense of superiority with his Sohail has the same mutual respect for his
juniors juniors as well

“I am ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ based on my position” “There is no ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ in a team”
Q1. How would Tushar’s “static identity” affect his relationship with team members and
ability to work in a team? On the other hand, how would Sohail’s “dynamic identity”
affect his team interactions?
Q2. How would each one’s identity impact their effectiveness at work?
Hint:
– What is the importance
of having the goodwill
of team members?
Q3. Who is more likely to be trusted by seniors, to act in larger good interests of the team?
Why? Discuss to answer.

CASE STUDY
Atul begins his career as a ‘contributor’, but as his career progresses,
his static identity turns him into a ‘non-contributor’
Atul was a software coder. After working for many years on many
complex projects, writing out many thousands of lines of code,
testing, debugging etc, he had become one of the best in his
team. After a few years when he was made the team lead, Atul
felt recognized.
He was respected by his team members because they found his

technical inputs very valuable. Atul was also keen on supporting
his team members with all the technical help, because he felt ‘I
have been there and done it before’. This was his domain. He
knew what was to be done…had all the answers. His team did well under him.
The organization then made him the manager of that division. Now he was expected to co-ordinate with
clients and with different teams, ensure timely payments from the client, etc. After the promotion, Atul
was pleased by the well-deserved acknowledgement of his good work.
Three months into the new role, his boss called him for a discussion. His boss told Atul that the team leads
working under Atul had complained that they were being micro-managed too much, they had no freedom
to bring in their own thinking and innovation, and were feeling restricted. Atul was puzzled and indignant.
After all, “he was doing no different from what he was doing earlier… they had liked his support then…”.
If his working style brought him success earlier, then there is no reason that it should not work now.
Atul continued with his way. He was busy all the time, getting involved in
solving numerous small programming challenges of the team, doing the
things that his juniors should have been coached to do instead. Because of
this, Atul didn’t have the time so he ignored the larger responsibilities that
were now part of his managerial role. Clients were complaining, reports to
headquarters were irregular, resources were mis-managed.
Since Atul had been a “star performer” earlier, his boss gave him time to adjust. But even after 6 months
when there was no change, he had to admit – Atul was not able to grow into the role of a Manager! Atul
thought he “knew it all” and was unwilling to learn the new way of handling things that was necessary in
his new role.
His boss was left wondering what to do with Atul.
Atul was so secure in his identity that he was a “star performer”. He saw his “promotion” as
a reward for his past good performance. He did not realize that the promotion meant “new
responsibilities” and thus demanded that he develop “new capabilities” within himself and a
“new way of working”, so as to do justice to his new managerial position.
Q1. What were the consequences of this -
– in his life?
– for the organization?
Q2. Why is it important to be open to learning and growing all the time and in all situations?
SCENARIO
Observe these two interviews.
INTERVIEW 1 INTERVIEW 2
Why should we hire you?

Your job offer of an analyst
requires rigor in thinking and going
deep into any subject – I think I
Sir, please look at my mark
have these capabilities, because
sheets. They tell you who I am...
of the kind of research projects I
Also see my certificates and
have worked on in college…
awards.
… further I have
practiced singing for 12
years. This has taught
me the self-discipline
and patience that is
necessary in this job
… through football
I learnt to work
well in teams
Thus I think I will be able

to deliver the results you
are looking for in this job

“I = My degrees and awards” “I = My power to contribute in the
current situation”
Q1. Who do you think the interviewer would prefer to hire? Why?
Q2. How would each of these two identities impact the quality of one’s work once one begins
working? Discuss to answer.
2.7: Field Work
Project 1
Project Goal: To recognize “static identities” and “dynamic identities” in people around me
(people I know and meet day in and day out).
STEP 1: You come across many people on a daily basis. Observe some of these people
you come across in your daily routine. Choose any 3 people you can study closer. Keep
them anonymous (only calling them X, Y and Z).
STEP 2: For each of these 3 people X, Y, and Z -

• Observe and make note of their actions and behaviors
– What he/she says
– How he/she relates to others
– How he/she relates to his/her work
• In these, recognize whether any of the following static identities or dynamic identities
are displayed in this person’s behavior
– 1 – Static Identity: “I = my qualifications and awards”
– Dynamic Identity: “I = the difference I can make to the world”
– 2 – Static Identity: “I am defined by my power and position”
– Dynamic Identity: “I am focused on the responsibilities I carry”
– 3 – Static Identity: “I = my past achievements”
– Dynamic Identity: “I = my future potential for contribution”
– 4 – Static Identity: “I = my knowledge and expertise gained”
– Dynamic Identity: “I am willing to learn and grow”
STEP 3: Make a presentation on each of the 3 persons X, Y, and Z – explaining -

– Static identities and / or dynamic identities noticed
– The actions and behaviors observed that tell you this
– If you observe a static identity
– In what way does it become a limitation and how are they able to break free?
– Is there a way of helping them move to a dynamic identity?
– If you observe a dynamic identity
– What can I learn out of it?
– My personal learnings / discoveries from this entire project
STEP 4: Present to the class
Project 2
Project Goal: To recognize “static identities” and “dynamic identities” in well-known

personalities.
STEP 1: Choose any 3 well-known personalities you admire.
STEP 2: Do some research on each of these 3 personalities (you can use the internet,
library books, magazines, newspapers). Identity -
• Some quotations of the person that show
– his/her work and life philosophy,
– some important choices or moves he/she may have made in his/her career and
what he/she has given as reasons for these choices
• Some incidents narrated about the person (by him/herself or by journalists / writers or
by people known to him/her) that show
– how the person relates with his/her work,
– how the person relates with other people with whom he/she works - with juniors,
with seniors, with peers, with friends and family, with others in the community
STEP 3: From this information you have found out, can you recognize whether any of the
following static identities or dynamic identities are displayed in each person’s behavior
– 1 – Static Identity: “I = my qualifications and awards”
– Dynamic Identity: “I = the difference I can make to the world”
– 2 – Static Identity: “I am defined by my power and position”
– Dynamic Identity: “I am focused on the responsibilities I carry”
– 3 – Static Identity: “I = my past achievements”
– Dynamic Identity: “I = my future potential for contribution”
– 4 – Static Identity: “I = my knowledge and expertise gained”
– Dynamic Identity: “I am willing to learn and grow”
STEP 4: Make a presentation on each of the 3 well-known personalities – explaining -

• Static identities and / or dynamic identities noticed along with the person’s quotations
and / or incidents that show these
• What I can learn from this person that will help me develop myself in contributorship
STEP 5: Present to the class
The power of identity

Swami Vivekananda emphasized again and again that our “self-image” - our view of ourselves
- our identity determines the way we behave and respond to life. He called this view of oneself
as “shraddha” or “faith” in oneself. If you have faith that you are capable of contributing, then
that becomes the basis for developing a contributor personality.
“ What we want is strength, so

believe in yourselves. What we
want, is this Shraddha. What
makes the difference between
“ There is a story about a lioness, who was big with young,
going about in search of prey; and seeing a flock of sheep,
man and man is the difference she jumped upon them. She died in the effort; and a little
in this Shraddha and nothing baby lion was born, motherless. It was taken care of by the
else. What makes one man great sheep and the sheep brought it up, and it grew up with
and another weak and low is this them, ate grass, and bleated like the sheep. And although
Shraddha. My Master used to say, in time it became a big, full-grown lion, it thought it was
he who thinks himself weak will a sheep. One day another lion came in search of prey and
become weak, and that is true. was astonished to find that in the midst of this flock of
This Shraddha must enter into sheep was a lion, fleeing like the sheep at the approach of
you. danger. He tried to get near the sheep-lion, to tell it that it
was not a sheep but a lion; but the poor animal fled at his
approach. However, he watched his opportunity and one
day found the sheep-lion sleeping. He approached it and
said, “You are a lion.” “I am a sheep,” cried the other lion
and could not believe the contrary but bleated. The lion
dragged him towards a lake and said, “Look here, here is
my reflection and yours.” Then came the comparison. It
looked at the lion and then at its own reflection, and in a
moment came the idea that it was a lion. The lion roared,
the bleating was gone. You are lions, you are souls, pure,
infinite, and perfect. The might of the universe is within
you.
“ This is one great point to

understand, and, my friends, my
Swami Vivekananda in Gujarat
brethren - no good comes out of the

man who day and night thinks he
is nobody. If a man, day and night,
thinks he is miserable, low, and
nothing, nothing he becomes. If
you say yea, yea, “I am, I am”, so shall
you be; and if you say “I am not”,
think that you are not, and day and
night meditate upon the fact that
you are nothing, ay, nothing shall
you be. That is the great fact which
you ought to remember.
“
During his tour of Gujarat, Swami Vivekananda came
Believe in that infinite soul, in contact with some of the most prominent Gujarati
the infinite power, which, with personalities of those days and exerted a great
influence on many of them.
consensus of opinion, your books
and sages preach. That Atman which Swami Vivekananda visited Gujarat during his Bharat
Parikrama in 1891-92, long before his appearance on
nothing can destroy, in It is infinite the world-stage at Chicago.
power only waiting to be called Thakore Saheb of Limbdi Shri Yashwantsinhji,

out. For here is the great difference Maharaja of Bhavanagar Shri Takhtsinhji, Maharaja
of Bhuj Shri Khengarji III, Maharaja of Porbandar
between all other philosophies and Shri Vikamatji, Maharaja of Baroda Shri Sayaji Rao
the Indian philosophy. Whether Gaekwad, Dewan of Junagadh Shri Haridas Viharidas
Desai, Administrator of Porbandar Shri Shankar
dualistic, qualified monistic, or Pandurang Pandit, Dewan of Kutch Shri Motichand
monistic, they all firmly believe that Lalchand, Dewan of Baroda Shri Manilal Jashbhai, the
great Gujarati Scholars Shri Mansukhram Tripathi and
everything is in the soul itself; it has Shri Manibhai N. Dwivedi, the great philanthropist Shri
only to come out and manifest itself. Lalshankar Umiashankar Trivedi, all of them became
great friends and admirers of Swami Vivekananda
and some of them became even his disciples.
along with the material available at gtu.ibecome.in.
You will find videos, concept presentations, quizzes to

improve your understanding of the topic.
Downloaded Booklet from I-Become ActivGuide

Swami Vivekananda
UNIT 3:
The Contributor’s
Vision of Success
...Not only external rewards but also deep
inner fulfillment

by
University
Services
UNIT 3:
The Contributor’s
Vision of Success
...Not only external rewards but also deep
inner fulfillment
Explore the meaning of success in your life.
Contributors have a deeper and wider definition of success

than Non-contributors. While Non-contributors define
success in terms of material success, achievement, external
impact, etc. Contributors are able to deepen and widen
this definition of success to include personal fulfillment,
development of self-esteem, ongoing development of
personal capabilities, etc.
Field Work (Projects) pg. 20-21

UNIT 3: THE CONTRIBUTOR’S VISION OF SUCCESS
Concept Exploration
EXPLORATION 1:
Expanding one’s Vision of Success
External Success External Success + Inner Success
The bonus offered ...More important, I

I want a bonus, so I will
for meeting targets want to experience the
work for the targets given. challenge of working for
will only be an
additional benefit... a target and the joy of
achieving it.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Share an experience where you or someone you know, were part of a group trying to achieve some
goal, where though the goal was not accomplished for various reasons, you all thoroughly enjoyed
the process and felt it was worth it (the excitement of working together, the energy created in the
group, the thrill of overcoming challenges and finding solutions, the sense of achievement, etc.).
Would you also call this a kind of “success”? Write about this experience.
EXPLORATION 2:

… I also want to build the
I want to come first in the confidence, will-power, and
Not only do I want
marathon. stamina to run such long
to come first in the
marathon... distances, face the challenges
that come up with a positive
attitude (without giving up), and
beat my previous record. I want
to also develop self-discipline.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Sometimes one does not “win” an external achievement, yet one feels that one has gained
confidence and become stronger from the experience. To others this might look like a “failure”
but to you it doesn’t seem so. Have you or anyone you know experienced this? Write about this
experience.
Q2. Life is not always smooth and easy – tough times are bound to come. How does such a wider vision
of success change the way one deals with failures and tough situations that come up in life?
EXPLORATION 3:
I want the best scientist If I get the best ...More important,

award this year. scientist award I want to stretch
this year, it will be the boundaries of my
thinking and imagination,
great...
and come up with new
discoveries in my field
REFLECTIONS
Q1. There are many people whose entire life revolves around contributing in their work – however
they never seem tired of it. Their work seems fresh and challenging all the time because they are
constantly stretching their own boundaries, their thinking, their imagination and they excel more
and more each time. They may or may not have received recognition and rewards for it – but they
do not chase those rewards – their thrill comes from excelling themselves.
Think of examples of such people in various fields and write about them.
[HINT: Think of Scientists, Artists, Musicians, Great Leaders, Teachers, Social Workers, Thought Leaders,
Bureaucrats, etc.]
EXPLORATION 4:

... More important, I want
I want a promotion, so I Getting a promotion to develop the capability
must perform well. is great — who of my team members and
doesn’t want one, my own capabilities as a
but... leader, so that all of us can
do well.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Think of an experience where you were put into a new role or a new situation that you had never
handled before, where you were forced to develop many new capabilities within yourself to deal
with it. Irrespective of the outcome of the role or situation, you felt accomplished because of the
new capabilities you learnt.
Would you also call this a kind of “success”? Write about this experience.
Contributors seek success for the deeper rewards

(the external rewards are a welcome bonus)
External Success
Inner Success
Awards
The excitement of
overcoming challenges
Promotions
Self-confidence
Stretching one’s and Self-esteem
boundaries as a
human being
Building new
capabilities
Beating
competition Financial
incentives
Q1. Discuss in groups to think of examples where one experienced -

– External Failure and Inner Failure
– External Success but Inner Failure
– External Failure but Inner Success
– External Success and Inner Success
Concept Application

SCENARIO
Karan’s Success Vision: Desai’s Success Vision:

Financial Success Alone All-round Success
At such a young age, I am
I have made a comfortable life for
a millionaire! I have my own
my family. We are able to enjoy it
company, big car, 3 houses
together – we are very close!
in different cities…I have
I have always stood by my principles
achieved what most people
and am respected in the community
can only dream of.
for that. People always come first!
Of course I had to
No amount of money is worth a lost
sacrifice many
relationship.
relationships to
I have always stood
reach here… so
by people, and I
what! You have
know that my people
to lose some to
will stand by me if
gain some… no
I ever need it. And
wonder people
most important, I
say it is lonely
have a lot of love
at the top…
and joy in my life…
my life is very “full”.
KARAN DESAI
Karan’s Success Vision only includes external success. Whereas Desai’s Success Vision
includes both external and inner success.
Q1. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?

[HINT: Put down all the things that –
• Karan would call success.
• Desai would call success.
Compare the two. Who would you say has more complete or overall “success” – including inner success
(as a human being), success for the people one cares for, as well as external success in the world?]
Q.2 What if things begin to go wrong and their businesses start doing badly –
• In light of his Success Vision, what is likely to happen in Karan’s life?
• In light of his Success Vision, what is likely to happen in Desai’s life?
[HINT: Think of the impact on their personal fulfillment, relationships, character strength, etc.]
Q3. What if somebody proposes to each of them “dismiss your workers and you can sell the
business at a high price” –
• In light of his Success Vision, what is Karan likely to do? Why?
• In light of his Success Vision, what is Desai likely to do? Why?
[HINT: Their Success Vision tells us what each one values in life. This determines what will be each
one’s criteria for making a choice. How would this influence what each one chooses to do?]

ROLE MODEL
Sachin’s Success Vision: Success not only for self, but also for teammates, and for India
After India won the Cricket World Cup in 2011, the team dedicated the win to Sachin Tendulkar. They carried
him on their shoulders around the ground.
Teammate Virat Kohli: “This win is for Sachin.”
Bowler Zaheer Khan: “It is a dream come true –

and we wanted it so badly for this very special
guy.”
Yuvraj Singh: “I wanted to win the World Cup

for Sachin. He was always around for me.
During my tough times, he told me to keep up
the spirit. He said ‘You don’t know what is there
in the box for you in future. You may be working
hard, but work harder’. Sachin also told me
that he believed in me.”
Sachin believed in enabling and helping his

teammates grow. In their success, he saw the
success of Team India.
“...And that is the reason why this victory is great,

because different players have made contributions to
the win.”
– Sachin Tendulkar
Q1. There are many “stars” in cricket, but not all of them have this kind of regard from their
teammates. Why is Sachin able to get this kind of love and respect from his teammates?
[HINT: How does Sachin’s deeper success vision influence the way he interacts with teammates?]
Q2. When you describe Sachin’s “success” in life, what all would you say about him? Give
examples of concrete incidents from his life that indicate his wider Success Vision.
[HINT: Connect incidents from his life with the 4 Explorations done in the Concept Exploration section, to
see how he widened his vision of success to include both external success and inner success.]
CASE STUDY
Marion Jones’ Success Vision: Perform well and win at any cost
(A Success Vision that destroyed her)
MARION JONES : Former world champion, track and field athlete
Marion Jones was a US track and field athlete who went on to dominate the world stage in the late ’90s and
early 2000s. She was one of the most loved athletes and a role model for thousands of Afro-Americans who
routinely beat her competitors on the track fields, right from her childhood.
Some of her records -

1997: Marion wins the 100m sprint at World Championships, Greece
1998: Won gold in World Cup, South Africa
1999: Won 4 titles at World Championship, Spain
2000: Won 3 gold and 2 bronze at Olympics, Sydney
Then…
In October 2007, she admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs as far back as 2000 Olympics. She
admitted to lying to investigation authorities earlier on the doping issue.
It was a very public fall from grace for 31-year-old Jones who in 2000 had amazed sports fans across the
world with her extremely difficult goal of winning 5 gold medals at the Sydney Olympics. She finally won 3
golds and 2 bronzes.
Jones had to give up all medals that she won 2000 onwards. Her fans felt betrayed.
Q1. In her ambition to win at any cost, Marion took drugs to improve her performance. Why
is this kind of success not really a “success”? Discuss to answer.
[HINT: Contributors have both an “inner compass” (because they seek success for its deeper rewards
including inner values, self-esteem, personal fulfillment, character) to direct their lives and the choices
they make; as well as an “outer compass” (this includes achievements in the external world). On the other
hand, non-contributors have only an “outer compass” (because they measure success only in external
terms). In this case study, Marion Jones had only an outer compass.]
– How did this affect the choices she made?

– What were the consequences of this in her life?
Q2. A person with a narrower, purely external vision of success may start off one’s career by
being a “contributor”, however he/she can become a “non-contributor” as the career
progresses (as in the case of Marion Jones). Why do you think this is so? Can you think
of any other examples of people to whom this has happened?
[HINT: You can also think of characters from movies]
– Thus, what is the value of having a wider and deeper “vision of success” in one’s life
(that includes inner success as well as external success)? How does it help one stay
on the path of contributorship? Discuss to answer.
ROLE MODEL
Walt Disney’s Success Vision: Contribute to people’s lives through
entertainment and hours of joy
Some quotations by Walt Disney
“People talk about me saying ‘The guy has no regard for money.’ That is not true.
I have had regard for money. But some people worship money as something
you’ve got to have piled up in a big pile somewhere. I’ve only thought about
money in one way, and that is to do something with it… I’ve always been bored
with just making money. I’ve wanted to do things; I wanted to build things, to get
something going...”
WALT DISNEY “I have never been interested in personal gain or profit. This business and this
The creator of
studio have been my entire life.”
“Mickey Mouse” and the
Founder of Disney Productions
“My business is making people, especially children, happy.”
“In this volatile [fast changing] business of ours, we can ill afford to rest on our laurels
[achievements], even to pause in retrospect [to look back into past]. Times and conditions
change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.”
“Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating the talents of those
who work for us and pointing them toward a certain goal.”
ON DISNEYLAND: “We believed in our idea – a family park where parents and children could have fun –
together… Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in
the world.”
Know more on Walt Disney’s life:

http://www.justdisney.com/walt_disney/
http://www.disneydreamer.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney
Q1. Walt Disney says – “Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating the talents
of those who work for us and pointing them toward a certain goal.” Why is such
development of people an important part of his deeper Success Vision of “Contributing
to people’s lives through entertainment and hours of joy”? Discuss to answer.
[HINT: Without a great team, would Walt Disney have been able to achieve all that he achieved in the
world?]
Q2. From Walt Disney’s quotes, and all that you may know about him, how would you
describe the success he achieved in life?
[HINT: Use the weblinks provided to explore more about him.]
ROLE MODEL
Abdul Kalam’s Success Vision: Keep trying until you convert your dreams into reality
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Aerospace engineer;
Professor and chancellor of the IIST;
11th President of India from 2002 to 2007;
Popularly known as, “People’s President”.
At the end of third year at MIT, Abdul Kalam

was given a project to design a low-level attack
aircraft. Kalam took up the responsibility of
preparing and drawing its aerodynamic design.
Kalam’s professor reviewed the project and
declared Kalam’s work to be gloomy and
disappointing. Kalam asked for one month’s time
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam says –
to complete the task but was given only three
days by his professor. Kalam stayed up whole
“We should not give up and
nights and completed the project successfully.
we should not allow the
The professor said in Kalam’s praise, “I knew problem to defeat us.”
I was putting you under immense pressure by
asking you to meet an impossible deadline. I “Three things are important for success –
never expected you to perform so well.” design capability, goal setting and
realization, and the strength to withstand
the setbacks.”
April 20, 1989 was scheduled to be the Agni
(missile) launch date under Kalam’s leadership.
“To succeed in your
Due to safety reasons Kalam had to cancel the mission, you must have
missile launch. The media took up the chance single-minded devotion
to create much controversy around this. The to your goal.”
missile launch was cancelled once again when
it was scheduled to launch on May 1, 1989.
continued...
...continued
One of the cartoons

in the media after the “There are forces in life working for you
failure of the first two and against you. One must distinguish
launches of Agni. the beneficial ones and choose correctly
between them.”
(Source: Wings of Fire, - Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
by Dr. APJ Kalam)
While addressing an assembly of 2000 persons on May 8, 1989, Kalam said: “I

promise you, we will be back after successfully launching Agni before the end of this
month.” It was Kalam’s inner strength and self-confidence behind Agni’s success.
Finally it took off at 7:10 hrs. It was a perfect launch.
“Dream, Dream, Dream! Convert these dreams into thoughts, and then transform
them into action.”
- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
The pressures and expectations of the presidential post never

got to Dr. Kalam. The usual full-sleeved blue shirt, the long In his last public function as
grey hair, and his various most commonly used words like, President, he had an advice for
‘Fantastic!’, ‘What’s happening?’ etc., always remained the countrymen – “Don’t take
gifts that come with a purpose
with him. Situations never changed the person Dr. Kalam is.
and build families with character
Despite being a President of India he was easily approachable and good value system.”
to students, civilians, and politicians.
Know more on Dr. APJ Kalam’s life:

http://www.abdulkalam.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._P._J._Abdul_Kalam
Q1. What are the choices Dr. Kalam made in his life, that reveals to us his Success Vision
“Keep trying until you convert your dreams into reality”?
ROLE MODEL
Amartya Sen’s Success Vision: Finding solutions to the problems which affect the
well-being of the community
Professor Sen is an Indian Economist born

in Bengal in 1933. He received his doctorate
from the University of Cambridge. He has
been a professor in India, Britain and the
United States. He was awarded the 1998
AMARTYA SEN Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his
Indian Economist. Awarded the
1998 Nobel Prize in Economic
contribution to welfare economics and social
Sciences for his contributions to
welfare economics and social
choice theory.
choice theory, and for his interest
in the problems of society’s
poorest members.
At the age of 9, Amartya Sen witnessed

the Bengal famine of 1943, in which three
million people died. He also witnessed a lot
of violence occur in India, during the time of
partition. These two events made him decide
to study economics and find out solutions to
the problems which affect the well-being of Bengal Famine of 1943, where an
the community. estimated 1.5 to 4 million people died
of starvation, malnutrition and disease
Sen worked to find out the causes of famine, and developed practical solutions for preventing or
limiting the effects of real or perceived shortages of food.
“Famines are easy to prevent if there is a serious effort to

do so. Famines occur not only from a lack of food, but also
from inequalities built into mechanisms for distributing
food.”
– Amartya Sen
continued...
...continued
Amartya Sen believes that “Humans should account to one another. For example, if a stranger asks the way
to the railway station, the local would not send him to the post office, because one should account to one
another.”
Showing his accountability towards mankind, Sen has utilized his domain knowledge of economics towards
the welfare of society.
His philosophical work has made deep explorations into issues of justice, inequality, morality, liberty, freedom,
rationality and objectivity. Sen designed methods of measuring poverty that gave useful information for
improving economic conditions for the poor.
The policies of many organizations and governments are influenced by the theories and practical examples Sen
has written in his research papers and books.
Amartya Sen has been called

“The Conscience and the
Mother Teresa of Economics.”
Know more on Amartya Sen’s life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-HZ3i1mzrU&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amartya_Sen
Q1. Amartya Sen’s success vision drove his entire life. He dedicated his entire life towards
realizing this vision.
Reflect on and write about “What is the power and value of having a wider and deeper
Success Vision in one’s life”?
3.7: FIELD WORK
PROJECT 1:
Project Goal: To recognize how a contributor consciously widens and deepens his/her “Success Vision”
through life’s experiences (using film-based case studies).
STEP 1: Choose any 3 popular films that show us how the leading character (hero / heroine), through the
course of the film, finds a wider success vision (a contributor’s success vision) for him/herself.
STEP 2: Discuss each of these 3 films in your project team (watching the films if needed), and identify
for each leading character in the films –
l How did he/she widen and deepen his/her own success vision through the experiences shown
in the film?
l In which of the 4 ways did the success vision widen?
– Taking on challenges and experiencing the joy of overcoming challenges and achieving tough
goals
– Increasing self-confidence, inner strength, character
– Stretching one’s boundaries as a human being and achieving higher and higher levels of
excellence
– Developing new capabilities in oneself and in others
STEP 3: Make a case study presentation that uses the cases in each of the 3 chosen films, to show “How
a contributor consciously widens his / her success vision through life’s experiences”.
STEP 4: Present to the class.
PROJECT 2:
Project Goal: To recognize how a contributor consciously widens and deepens his/her “Success Vision”
through life’s experiences (using case studies of well-known personalities). Also seeing the connection
between one’s Success Vision and the career choices one makes.
STEP 1: Choose any 3 well-known personalities you admire (don’t choose the same people you may
have studied for earlier projects).
STEP 2: Do some research on each of these 3 personalities (you can use the internet, library books,
magazines, newspapers). Identify –
l Some quotations or writings by / on the person that show
– his/her work and life philosophy
– some important choices or moves he/she may have made in his/her career and what
he/she has given as reasons for these choices
l Some incidents / experiences in the person’s life (written about by him/herself or by journalists /
writers or by people known to him/her) that show
– How did he/she widen own success vision through his/her experiences, incidents, challenges
faced in life?
– In which of the 4 ways did the success vision widen?
- Taking on challenges and experiencing the joy of overcoming challenges and achieving
tough goals
- Increasing self-confidence, inner strength, character
- Stretching one’s boundaries as a human being and achieving higher and higher levels of
excellence
- Developing new capabilities in oneself and in others
STEP 3: Discuss each of the 3 personalities, to articulate for each –

l What was his/her success vision?
l How did his/her success vision influence his/her career choices and other important choices in his/
her life (that you may have found through your research)?
STEP 4: Make this into a presentation with a section covering each of the 3 personalities
(3 case studies).
Expand your vision of success

Swami Vivekananda wanted each one us to have a large vision of success so that we create
material, intellectual and spiritual success not only for ourselves, but also for our fellowmen
and our whole country.
“ Make the character of Mahavira (Hanuman) your

ideal. See how at the command of Ramachandra he
“ Purity in thought, speech and act
is absolutely necessary. As for thirst
after knowledge, it is an old law that
crossed the ocean! He had no care for life or death.
we all get whatever we want. None of
He was a perfect master of his senses and wonderfully
us can get anything other than what
sagacious. Build your life on this great ideal of personal
we fix our hearts upon. There must
service. Through that ideal all the other ideas will
be a continuous struggle, a constant
gradually manifest themselves in life. Obedience to
fight, an unremitting grappling with
the Guru without questioning and strict observance
our lower nature, till the higher
of Bramhacharya – this is the secret of success.
want is actually felt and victory is
achieved. The student who sets out
“ Every man should take up his own ideal and endeavour

to accomplish it. That is a surer way of progress than
with such a spirit of perseverance
will surely find success at last.
taking up other men’s ideals, which he can never hope
“
to accomplish. For instance, we take a child and at once
There is success and failure in every
give him the task of walking twenty miles. Either the
work. But I am inclined to believe
little one dies, or one in a thousand crawls the twenty
that one who is a coward will be
miles, to reach the end exhausted and half-dead. That
born after death as an insect or a
is like what we generally try to do with the world. All
worm, that there is no salvation
the men and women, in any society, are not of the same
for a coward even after millions of
mind, capacity, or of the same power to do things;
years of penance. Well, shall I after
they must have different ideals, and we have no right
all be born as a worm? …In my eyes
to sneer at any ideal. Let every one do the best he can
this world is mere play – and it will
for realising his own ideal. Nor is it right that I should
always remain as such. Should one
be judged by your standard or you by mine. The apple
spend six long months brooding
tree should not be judged by the standard of the oak,
over the questions of honour and
nor the oak by that of the apple. To judge the apple tree
disgrace, gain and loss pertaining to
you must take the apple standard, and for the oak, its
this?
own standard.
“ We talk foolishly against material civilisation. The grapes are sour.

Even taking all that foolishness for granted, in all India there are,
say, a hundred thousand really spiritual men and women. Now, for
the spiritualisation of these, must three hundred millions be sunk in
savagery and starvation? Why should any starve?
“ The secret of success of the

Westerners is the power of
organisation and combination. That
is only possible with mutual trust Swami Vivekananda at Ahmedabad
and co-operation and help. Now
here is Virchand Gandhi, the Jain,
whom you well knew in Bombay.
This man never takes anything but
pure vegetables even in this terribly
cold climate, and tooth and nail
tries to defend his countrymen and
religion. The people of this country
[America] like him very well, but
what are they [Indians] doing who
sent him over? They [Indians] are
trying to outcast him. ...it is jealousy
that holds them down.
“ Power and things like that will come

by themselves. Put yourself to work,
Swami Vivekananda stayed for about eleven days
sometime in the latter part of 1891 as a guest of
Lalshankar Umiashankar Trivedi (b.1845, d.1912) in
and you will find such tremendous Ahmedabad after he first entered Gujarat from Ajmer.
power coming to you that you will
Lalshankar was the guiding force behind many
feel it hard to bear. Even the least associations founded in Gujarat during the
work done for others awakens the renaissance period like the Gujarat Vernacular
Society, Buddhivardhak Sabha, and several other
power within; even thinking the least social and educational institutions connected with
good of others gradually instills into women’s education and the uplift of untouchables.
the heart the strength of a lion.
Source: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Source: Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot,
(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road, Website (www.rkmrajkot.org)
Kolkata 14, India)


Swami Vivekananda
UNIT 4:
The Contributor’s
Vision of Career
From Acquisitive Career to Contributive Career

by
University
Services
UNIT 4:
The Contributor’s
Vision of Career
From Acquisitive Career to
Contributive Career
Learn to distinguish between an “acquisitive career” and a

“contributive career”.
An acquisitive career is one in which the career-seeker is

focused on acquiring higher position, higher salary, more
benefits, etc. This preoccupation with selfish interests often
damages the individual’s career, and equally important,
damages the organization and society. A contributive career
is one where the career-seeker is focused on contributing,
with rewards being a by-product of the contributions made.
Field Work (Projects) pg.16-17

UNIT 4: THE CONTRIBUTOR’S VISION OF CAREER
Concept Exploration
EXPLORATION 1:
The Contributor’s Career Strategy1: Choose the “Opportunity Vision”
‘Rewards’ Vision ‘Opportunity’ Vision
Does this job offer –

– Opportunities to face new
Does this job offer – challenges & develop new skills?
– High salary and perks? – Opportunities to meet new people
& learn new things?
– Holidays?
– Opportunities to make a
– Incentives?
difference?
Rewards are more important Opportunities to face challenges and

than quality of work and one’s one’s own development are more
development in the job important than salary and perks
REFLECTIONS
Q1. How will this career strategy of choosing “opportunity vision” impact your choice of job? Discuss
to answer.
MEANINGS:
1
Career Strategy is an approach or tip or plan of action that you can use in your own career to improve / grow in your own
Career (as a contributor).
EXPLORATION 2:
The Contributor’s Career Strategy: Choose the “Purpose Vision”
‘Domain’ Vision ‘Purpose’ Vision
I will learn whatever is needed

I can work in the
to perform well in my role, and
field that I have been
help my team / organization
trained in
achieve its goals
The Non-contributor is limited by The Contributor is purpose-

his/her domain of training, and is focused, and is thus willing to learn
unwilling to go beyond and do whatever it takes to serve
the purpose
REFLECTIONS
Q1. How will this career strategy of choosing “purpose vision” impact your choice of job? Discuss to
answer.
EXPLORATION 3:
The Contributor’s Career Strategy: Choose the “Capacity Expansion Vision”
‘Comfort Zone’ Vision ‘Capacity Expansion’ Vision
I believe that one must be willing

to step out of one’s comfort zone
and try out newer roles. This will
expand not only my skill set, but
also my capacity to learn and my
self-esteem and confidence
I can do some things

well. Don’t ask me to do
new things.
The Non-contributor rigidly sticks The Contributor is willing to try

to his/her given job description and out and learn new things, diversify
his/her ‘comfort zone’ if needed, volunteer for new
responsibilities, take on new roles –
thus expanding his/her capacity
REFLECTIONS
Q1. How will this career strategy of choosing “capacity expansion vision” impact your choice of job?
Discuss to answer.
EXPLORATION 4:
The Contributor’s Career Strategy: Choose the “External + Inner Growth Vision”
‘External Growth’ Vision ‘External + Inner Growth’ Vision
To me success means external

To me success growth combined with growth
means more money, in my capacities, leadership
more power, skills, ability to contribute
more position effectively, etc.
The Non-contributor recognizes The Contributor recognizes and

and chases only external growth seeks both external growth as well
as inner growth within him/her self
REFLECTIONS
Q1. How will this career strategy of choosing “external + inner growth vision” impact your choice of
job? Discuss to answer.
Concept Application
When assessing a job, what should I look for?

SCENARIO
Ajay and Raghu have a couple of job offers on hand. They are trying to decide which job to
take up. These are the questions each of them ask the manager, to help them take a decision.
AJAY - THE NON-CONTRIBUTOR RAGHU - THE CONTRIBUTOR
What is the pay

package? Will I get a
What kind of work will
team to work under
I actually be doing?
me? Will I have to
What are the typical
stay late often? Will I
responsibilities? What
get compensated for
are typical challenges?
working over-time?
Will I get all the

comforts and Does this job and
conveniences I the contribution I
want? can possibly make
here, excite me?
Q1. How would each of the above 2 approaches to a job offer, impact the impression
employers get of Ajay and Raghu?
Q2. How will this thinking impact the way in which each fulfills the responsibilities in the job?
Q3. What will be the impact of such a thinking on each one’s career growth in the long run?
If my job / role is changed in the company I work in, how should I respond?
SCENARIO
A large technology corporation is diversifying and entering new markets. The management
is identifying people to send to Singapore, where they are setting up operations. Since
the new office will begin small, the team going there would have to multi-task. The
management is considering two bright software engineers - Mohit and Sumit. Both are
good programmers. The management observes them for some time, so that they can
decide who to select. This is what they see –
MOHIT - THE NON-CONTRIBUTOR SUMIT - THE CONTRIBUTOR

Mohit does not do anything which is beyond his stated Sumit is flexible and is quickly able to adapt to new
job description of a software engineer. He says… assignments. He says…
Why not? Sure… let me try

my hand at it, I am sure I
I am a software engineer… I
can pick it up.
am good at my job – but this
is not my job…
Every job has its
challenges – unless you
try it out, how will you
Why should I do
know how well you can
anything extra?
do it and whether you
like it or not? This way
you can really learn
a lot!
Q1. Who would be more suitable for the new assignment? Why?
Q2. What is Mohit losing out because of the narrow way in which he sees his role in the
organization?
[HINT: Consider loss in career opportunities and personal development opportunities]
Q3. Who amongst these 2 would be considered by the organization to be an “asset” and
would be valued more by them in the long run? Why?
Q.4 Technologies continuously become out-dated and replaced by newer ones. In such a
fast-changing industry, who will be able to deal with the changes in a better way? Why?
Discuss to answer.
How do I create opportunities for growth in my career?
ROLE MODEL
CAROL DOWNES
Late one evening, William C. Durant, the founder of General Motors (GM),
walked into his bank after banking hours, and asked for some work to be done,
which ideally should have been requested during banking hours.
While others did not take the trouble to serve him, the man who served Mr.
Durant after banking hours was Carol Downes, an executive of the bank.
Downes had created a growth opportunity for himself by serving his customer well.
The next day, William Durant asked Downes to come to his office. Mr. Durant offered Downes a position in his
office which was happily accepted by Downes.
Several months later, Downes was informed that he had been

chosen to go out to a new plant to supervise the installation
of the plant machinery. Thus, Downes, a former bank official,
became a machinery expert in a few months. Although
he did not know anything about installation of machinery,
Downes chose to accept the assignment happily, rather than
complaining about it.
General Motors (GM) is an American multinational Downes had created one more growth opportunity by
automotive corporation, and is today the world’s
second-largest automaker. It produces cars and trucks in whole-heartedly accepting a challenge.
31 countries, including brands such as Buick, Cadillac,
Chevrolet, GMC, Opel, Vauxhall.
Three months later, the job was done so well that Mr. Durant asked him where he learned about machinery.
“I never learned, Mr. Durant. I merely found men who knew how to do the job, put them to work, and they did
it.” Downes explained. Mr. Durant told Downes that he was promoted as the new manager of the plant and his
salary to start with would be $50,000 a year.
Downes had created one more growth opportunity by not only succeeding in his assignment, but also
sharing credit and focusing on his role as a contributive-manager.
Q1. Think of some stories of contributors (like Downes) who have created growth opportunities
in their career. Write about them and how they created growth opportunities.
[HINT: You can think of people you personally know, or people you have read about, or people shown in
movies]
In a job environment, how do I choose amongst assignment opportunities?
SCENARIO
Suraj and Varun joined a pharmaceutical company, fresh out of college. 6 months into the
job, they are given a choice to take up any one of two assignments –
– The first assignment is a mainstream project with a 1 month deadline. It is in their own
domain that they are familiar with. The team would be 8-10 people, with several senior
team members. Working on a large project such as this, will bring the team under the
limelight.
– The second assignment is in a new cutting-edge area that the organization is

experimenting in. They will be in a team of 3-4 who need to find their own answers
and make things work. The organization gives the team 4 months, after which they will
take a decision whether to invest into this area or not.
This is how they are thinking through this choice.
SURAJ - THE NON-CONTRIBUTOR VARUN - THE CONTRIBUTOR

The second assignment is too
risky! I have never done anything like In the first assignment, I can
this before… It is not my subject learn a lot from the expertise
and I won’t know anything there. The of my seniors. I will also learn
management will get a bad how such large projects work –
that is very good
impression of me.
exposure.
However, the second, is a rare

The first assignment is opportunity to do cutting-edge work.
safer. I know that work… We will find our way to the answers…
besides there will be others in
we will learn and do whatever it
the team who can tell me what
takes! If we succeed, the value to
to do if needed. Also, being
mainstream, it will give me the organization and to the field will
the experience to get a be fundamental! If we don’t, I will
job in the future. at least have learnt from
the experience…
Q1. What is the difference in the way Suraj is thinking and in the way Varun is thinking about
both these assignments? Discuss to answer.
Q2. What does each one’s thinking tell us about each person’s confidence and ability to
take up new responsibilities and challenging assignments? What will be the long-term
impact of this on each one’s overall development as a professional?
Q3. Though they are in the same job environment, who is likely to see more career
opportunities open up to him? Why? Discuss in groups to answer.
How to get a promotion?

SCENARIO
Rajat and Suman have just been promoted.
RAJAT - THE NON-CONTRIBUTOR SUMAN - THE CONTRIBUTOR
Finally I have got my promotion! It I am happy that management

took quite a lot of manipulation – recognized the contributions
being in the good books of the right created by me and my team.
people, showing how I am better
than my teammates...
The new position looks exciting!

But... there are so many
challenges in this higher position. I have a great team who work very
How will I get the respect of well with me. I have already developed
my juniors? How will I prove my so many capabilities for this role. And
competence? How to earn the most important, people in the company
trust of people? This is trust me. I am sure I can succeed in
tougher than expected... fulfilling the responsibilities of this
new position.
Q1. What is the difference in both their career strategies? How will their different approaches
impact their power to contribute in their jobs? Discuss to answer.
4.6: FIELD WORK
PROJECT 1:
Project Goal: To learn “Contributor Career Strategies1” from an experienced contributor.
STEP 1: Identify any one “Contributor” you know, who has worked for at least 10 years, and who has
contributed a lot during the course of his/her career.
[HINT:
Think of who you can interview amongst - People known to your family, Colleagues of your parents, Neighbors,
Teachers, People who work in your neighborhood (eg: postman, shopkeepers, fruit / vegetable seller, rickshaw
driver, municipality workers, etc.)]
STEP 2: Interview this person, asking him/her to tell you about –

l The different roles he/she has performed throughout his/her career life.
l How he/she developed and moved up in his/her career. What were the important milestones2
in his/her career.
l For each of the new roles or assignments taken up, what new capabilities did he/she have to
build (so as to be able to fulfill the new responsibilities).
l What were some of the most important career choices he/she made? How did he/she think
about these choices? What made him/her make these choices?
l What are some of the most important “contributions” he/she feels he/she made in each of his/
her roles in the career?
STEP 3: Make a presentation on this person –

l Explain how the person answered each of the above questions.
l What are some “Contributor Career Strategies1” that you can learn from this person’s
experience?
MEANINGS:
1
Career Strategy is an approach or tip or plan of action that you can use in your own career to improve / grow in your own
Career (as a contributor).
2
Milestone is an important point in the career where he/she took some important decisions / choices; or there was an
important change that took place in his/her career track; or some important new assignment that he/she took up.
PROJECT 2:
Project Goal: To learn about a Contributor’s Vision of his/her career.
STEP 1: From the - Unit 4 - Exploration section, select any one Contributor you
want to study deeper.
STEP 2: Explore this person’s story, do further research if necessary, and identify –
l How this person developed his/her career over time?
l Some of the important career choices this person made and how he/she thought about each
of these choices (why did he/she make that choice).
l How did this person create opportunities for oneself to grow in his/her career? [HINT: What new
challenges did he/she take up? How did he/she open up new career possibilities3?]
l What was this person’s “vision” for his/her career i.e. what do you think “career growth” meant
for him/her? [HINT: Look for both “external growth” as well as “inner growth”.]
STEP 3: Make a presentation about –

l The Career Vision of this Contributor (answers to the above questions).
l Also share what you learnt from this person for your own career.
MEANINGS:
3
Career Possibilities are new career opportunities that may never have been open to you if you had not taken up a
certain challenge or choice. Thus new things in your career are made “possible” because of the choice you made.

Your career is an opportunity to make a huge difference
to yourself and to the world at large
Swami Vivekananda believed that “career” does not mean begging for employment or seeking
to be gainfully occupied. To him, “career” meant an opportunity for each one of us to embark
upon a glorius journey of mighty contribution - to oneself, to our community, to our nation,
and even to the world at large.
“ This is the time to decide your future

– while you possess the energy of
youth, not when you are worn out and
jaded, but in the freshness and vigour
of youth. Rouse yourselves, therefore,
or life is short. There are greater
“ You are thinking yourselves highly educated. What
nonsense have you learnt? Getting by heart the
works to be done than aspiring to thoughts of others in a foreign language, and stuffing
become lawyers and picking quarrels your brain with them and taking some university
and such things. A far greater work degrees, you consider yourselves educated! Fie upon
is this sacrifice of yourselves for the you! Is this education? What is the goal of your
benefit of your race, for the welfare of education? Either a clerkship, or being a roguish
humanity. lawyer, or at the most a Deputy Magistracy, which is
another form of clerkship – isn’t that all? Open your
eyes and see what a piteous cry for food is rising in
“
the land of Bharata, proverbial for its wealth! Will
Within you lies indomitable power. your education fulfil this want? Never. With the
Only thinking, “I am nothing, I am help of Western science set yourselves to dig the
nothing”, you have become powerless. earth and produce food-stuffs – not by means of
And what are you doing? Even after mean servitude of others – but by discovering new
learning so much, you go about avenues to production, by your own exertions aided
the doors of others, crying, “Give by Western science.
me employment”. Trampled under
others’ feet doing slavery for others,
are you men any more? You are not
worth a pin’s head!
“ We must travel, we must go to

foreign parts. We must see how the
Swami Vivekananda at Limbdi
engine of society works in other

countries, and keep free and open
communication with what is going
on in the minds of other nations,
if we really want to be a nation
again. Stand on your own feet, and
assimilate what you can; learn from
every nation, take what is of use to
you.
“ What India wants is a new electric

fire to stir up a fresh vigour in
the national veins. This was ever, Swami Vivekananda then met Thakore Saheb of Limbdi, Sir
and always will be, slow work. Be Yashwantsinhji, K.C.I.E, (b.1859, d.1907).
content to work, and, above all, be

Apart from being an able administrator, Yashwantsinhji was
true to yourself. Be pure, staunch, deeply spiritual and a highly learned and cultured prince with
and sincere to the very backbone, deep interest in literature, religion and philosophy.
and everything will be all right. His contact with Swami Vivekananda brought about a great
transformation in Yashwantsinhji and he became Vivekananda’s
disciple.
“
He also had an opportunity to be in Swami Vivekananda’s
Believe, therefore, in yourselves, and holy company for several days during the summer of 1892 at
if you want material wealth, work it Mahabaleshwar. Here they had several discussions on Shastras
which he has recorded in his ‘Nondh Pothi’ (diary).
out; it will come to you. If you want
to be intellectual, work it out on the On May 9, 1892 Thakore Saheb has noted: “I am pleasantly
surprised at Swami Vivekananda’s deep knowledge of the
intellectual plane, and intellectual Shastras. My knowledge of the Shastras has been much
giants you shall be. increased through discussions with him .”
Source: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Source: Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot, website (www.rkmrajkot.org)
(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally
Road, Kolkata 14, India)


Swami Vivekananda
UNIT 5:
The Scope of Contribution

Contribution to Self, Organization, and Society

by
University
Services
UNIT 5:
The Scope of Contribution

Contribution to Self, Organization, and Society
In every work, every role, there is a possibility of contributing

at multiple levels – contributing to self, contributing to
organization, and contributing to society. Explore how you
can contribute at multiple levels in your career.
Further, explore the difference between “acquisition for

self” and “contribution to self” – the former being material
acquisition and the latter being conscious development of
oneself through the medium of one’s career.
Field Work (Projects) pg. 14-17

UNIT 5: THE SCOPE OF CONTRIBUTION
Concept Exploration
EXPLORATION 1:
The Contributor not only performs his/her activities or duties,

but also tries to achieve the ‘purpose’ behind all these activities
Activity Vision of Work Purpose Vision of Work
ACTIVITY PURPOSE
I ensure that my
I am taking a passenger reaches
passenger to the station on time
the railway to catch her
station train
ACTIVITY
I am taking a
passenger to the
railway station
… the auto rickshaw driver who … the auto rickshaw driver who is focused on
does his work routinely serving the customer’s purpose
REFLECTIONS
Think of examples of such experiences you have had as a customer, where (a) the person serving you
was doing the work too routinely, because of which the work you needed didn’t get done (b) the person
serving you was focused on the purpose for which you had gone to him/her, thus getting your work done.
In each case, how did that person’s approach make you feel? Discuss and write about this.
EXPLORATION 2:
An individual who “Contributes to Self” not only performs activities, but also tries
to systematically develop his/her own self through these activities

ACTIVITY ACTIVITY PURPOSE
As General Manager,
As General Manager,
I have to lead many
I have to lead many
people and take many
people and take many One of my goals is to
big decisions
big decisions develop myself in a
number of new areas, so
that I am worthy of this
great responsibility
… the manager who … the manager who develops capability &

performs his duties confidence to handle larger responsibilities,
while performing his duties
REFLECTIONS
Think of examples of situations where you feel you “Contributed to Self” during the course of doing the
activities required in the situation. Discuss and write about this.
[HINT: Think of situations where you may have gained exposure to new areas and experiences; learnt something
new; built confidence and self-esteem; become stronger in character; learnt some “lessons for life”; etc.]
EXPLORATION 3:
An individual who “Contributes to the Team / Organization” not only meets short-
term targets, but also “invests” into the long-term goals, capacities, and strengths
of the Team / Organization

I meet my
I meet my sales targets
sales targets regularly
regularly
My main goal is to
build a network
of long-term
relationships for
my company.
… the sales person who spends time and effort in

… the sales person who building long-term relationships for the
meets his targets organization, while meeting his immediate targets
REFLECTIONS
Think of some team project you were a part of, where you feel you “Contributed to the Team” (by investing
into the long-term team goals / capacities / strengths of the team). Write about this experience.
EXPLORATION 4:
An individual who “Contributes to Society” goes beyond commercial or

organizational goals, and seeks to achieve the goals or purposes of the larger
community / society
I am setting up
I am keen that
I am setting up a a new cement
the factory
new cement factory factory
becomes a
catalyst for
social and
economic development in
the area
… the businessman who … the businessman who ensures that the

sets up a new business new business he is setting up, also serves in
developing the local community
REFLECTIONS
Think of examples of such people you may have met or heard / read about, who are focused on “Contributing
to Society” through their work. Discuss and write about this.
Identify Contribution Possibilities

In each of the activities given below, identify what is the ‘purpose’ that person can contribute towards, at all
3 levels –
ACTIVITY WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS

CAN HE/SHE MAKE TO CAN BE MADE TO CAN BE MADE TO
‘SELF’? ‘TEAM / COLLEAGUES / ‘SOCIETY’?
ORGANIZATION’?
The Student who is
studying a subject...
The Teacher who is

teaching students in
a class...
The Engineer who

is supervising the
building of roads /
bridges / etc...
The Software
Programmer who is
coding software...
ACTIVITY WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS

CAN HE/SHE MAKE TO CAN BE MADE TO CAN BE MADE TO
‘SELF’? ‘TEAM / COLLEAGUES / ‘SOCIETY’?
ORGANIZATION’?
The Shop Keeper
who is selling goods
to customers...
The Customer-care
Executive who is
talking on the phone
to a customer
having a complaint...
The Politician who

is representing a
constituency...
The Government
Official who is
processing files...
The Broker who is

negotiating between
two parties...
Concept Application
APPLICATION EXAMPLE 5.1: SCENARIO
Contribution Choice 1: “Building capability of my team is as important as my own

development”
Amit and Sudhir were team leaders. Their boss Navin has been getting requests for team
change from Amit’s team members. This is what their juniors have to say about them.
AMIT’S JUNIOR SUDHIR’S JUNIOR
Last time when I worked with Amit Sudhir is always available to
on a presentation, both of us worked guide us. He helps us learn and
equally hard on it… but the committee build our capability – so our team
never came to know about my has become really good.
contribution. He took all the credit.
I feel confident to try out new things
Had something gone as I know Sudhir will back me up. Even
wrong, he would have if things go wrong, he stands right
been the first one to behind us and takes the responsibility.
tell everybody that I So we are also ready to support him in
was responsible for the any of his initiatives.
presentation.
Last month the CEO
praised our entire team
Amit sets for being the best
unreasonable targets performing team of the
for us – and never quarter. Sudhir makes
gives us the support sure all of us get equal
we need to meet them! credit.
AMIT does not contribute to the development of SUDHIR is concerned about the development of his
his team - in fact, he tries to get ahead in the team members, as well as development of his own
organization, at the cost of others. capabilities as a leader.
Q1. Amit had built a reputation of being someone who was unsupportive, protected only
himself and never shared credit with others.
– How would this impact his relationships within the organization?
– How would this impact his career progress in the long run?
Q2. Sudhir not only wanted to do high-quality work, but through this he also wanted to
develop the capability of his team members and his own capabilities as a leader.
How would this be a contribution towards –

– Sudhir’s overall performance at work and his long-term professional development?
– His team members?
– His organization?
[HINTS: Consider
– The impact of a highly capable team on business results
– The impact on the organization’s overall capability to compete in the market
– The impact of a motivated work force, on the working environment within the organization]

STORY
Contribution Choice 2: “Building customer’s trust in the organization is more important
for the long-term business, than chasing immediate sales targets”
Alex had recently joined the Relisafe Bank as a sales manager. The bank had just come out with
a new investment product called MultiCash.
Alex’s boss Rajinder, called him to his Back at his desk, Alex studied the product
office and explained the product to him. literature…
Our bank’s performance this year

depends on the success of this Hmmm… this investment
product. You are one of the few is not risk-free… why haven’t
chosen by the bank, to sell MultiCash. we mentioned this in the
We trust that you will do a good job. brochures?
Sir, can I
Oh well, I suppose
have a list
Sir is right. Sales of this
of the risk
product is important for
factors? The
the bank. It is better
customer can
that I keep quiet…
then know
Alex, we can’t
what exactly
afford to discourage
he is getting
customers from buying Alex’s selling skills helped him sell MultiCash to
into…
the product by telling 3 customers the very next day. There was one
them that it is risky. more pending call for the day…
Alex rang the doorbell to Mr. Jha’s house. He soon

began his sales pitch. But...
Son, I hope this is a safe investment.

At this age, I cannot afford to lose
any money.
How can I tell Jha that his investment would be safe? If he buys this trusting in me,
and God forbid if Jha loses money, I will be responsible for it!
Boss’s trust on one hand, customer’s trust on the other… what should I do?
Alex thought things over and quickly made a choice. He told Mr. Jha – “Sir, MultiCash indeed has
some risks, but the returns are also very good. I don’t advise you to invest a lot of money in it. In
my opinion, you can invest a small sum and get a very good return on it. Then, even in the unlikely
event of a loss, you will lose very little money”.
Q1. Alex changed what would have been a “win-lose” situation (where his company wins sales,
but the customer loses) to a “win-win” situation (where both company and customer stood
to benefit). Through his actions and choices, how did Alex simultaneously contribute to the
(a) welfare of the customer (b) development of the organization (c) his own development
as a professional and as a human being? Discuss to answer.
[HINTS: Consider -
– How would this impact Mr. Jha’s trust in him and in his company?
– How would such choices impact the brand and reputation of his company in the long run?
– What could be the long term consequences of mindlessly pursuing targets without considering the
need and concerns of the customer? How did Alex prevent this from happening?
– How would this impact Alex’s own character strength and personal satisfaction?
– How does building trust and a good reputation in the market help one grow in one’s career in the
long run?]
STORY
Contribution Choice 3: “Tough circumstances are an opportunity for making more
contributions (not problems to ignore or run away from)”
Anil Kumar was posted as Bank Branch Manager in a remote place about 80 kms away from Jaisalmer, in
Rajasthan. There were many problems typical of a small desert village,
such as – no electricity, no water, frequent sand storms, no proper place
to stay, etc. Further, in the Bank Branch (his workplace) itself, everything
was disorganized – with stationery and registers lying around, etc.
Kumar says, “Any new work will always have its challenges. If you
give up and do nothing, thinking ‘this is a problem’ then you won’t get
anywhere. I saw this posting as an opportunity where a lot of good
work could be done!”
Kumar’s first challenge was to make the Bank Branch profitable. He identified the key problem as lack of awareness
in the community about the schemes offered by the Bank. So he began by spreading awareness, visiting people in
their homes, educating them and giving them services according to their needs. He even learnt the local language
to interact better with the local community.
Kumar also chose to live in the village itself (instead of Jaisalmer where earlier
Branch Managers had lived). He thought “if the villagers can live happily in
such a place, then so can I”. The villagers began trusting him and over time,
he became an ‘insider’ in the village community. He even began participating in
their family functions and festivals.
It took him a full year to get his branch into shape and meet his business targets for the first year. However,
in the second year, he not only met but even crossed his targets in just six
months.
The villagers, who earlier depended on village money lenders now went to
Kumar’s bank for loans. They availed the different schemes to use in their
businesses, which increased their income.
“When I think back to those days, I feel good. I enjoyed my stay there and
still feel good about the difference I was able to make to the villagers and to the Bank”, says Anil Kumar.
Q1. By the time Anil Kumar left this place, as Bank Branch Manager he had made a deep
contribution towards the welfare of the local community.
How do you think Anil Kumar defined for himself –
– His personal or human purpose?
– The organizational purpose he was serving?
– The societal purpose he was serving?
Q2. How did his definition of purpose influence the choices that he made? Discuss to answer.
5.4: FIELD WORK
PROJECT 1:
Project Goal: To identify case examples of people who have widened their scope of contribution.
STEP 1: Study this case example –
Project Shakti: Empowering rural women while building a new market for HLL
When Manvinder Banga took over as chairman of Hindustan Lever (HLL, now called HUL), in May 2000,
he found that the competition was strong and further growth in business had become increasingly difficult.
HLL needed to open up new markets. Mr. Banga observed that one of the greatest challenges for selling
in India, is that conventional media (like TV, radio, newspaper, etc.) reached only half the population, thus
leaving more than 500 million people ignorant of a company’s product or brand.
To reach out to these people, HLL launched Project Shakti. Shakti targeted small villages with population
of less than 2000 people, to empower rural women by providing income-generating
opportunities, health and hygiene education, and access to relevant information.
Project Shakti drew upon women’s self-help groups. Typically comprising 10-12
women from a single village, the self-help group would give a small amount of cash
towards a common pool. Micro-credit agencies would then offer additional funds to
finance approved micro-commercial initiatives.
HLL built upon this infrastructure, by giving a chance to the women to earn money by
selling HLL products directly to fellow villagers. This not only allowed HLL to reach
out to the rural market, but also created women entrepreneurs. This significantly
improved the women’s income, giving them a steady source of livelihood.
With Project Shakti, HLL sought to achieve both the objectives of social impact and business growth.
STEP 2: In the above case example, Banga widened the “organizational purpose” of HLL from just
“business profits” to “welfare of society along with business profits”. Similarly, identify –
l 2 more such examples where people have widened their scope of contribution.
l For each example, do some research to find out how their actions and choices increased their -
Contribution to Self, Contribution to Team / Organization, Contribution to Society.
STEP 3: Make a presentation on each of these 2 examples explaining how each widened their scope of
contribution (at all 3 levels).
PROJECT 2:
Project Goal: To identify the “contribution possibilities” within a Job Role (eg: Software Programmer in a
large software services company).
STEP 1: Identify any one job role that you would be interested in taking up in your future career.
STEP 2: Do some research to find out more about what responsibilities are involved in this job / role.
l Interview 2-3 people who are working in that job role (look for seniors / people known to your family
/ people known to your teachers, etc.)
l Use the internet to search for information on the job role.
Find out –
l What are the key results or outcomes a person in this job role is responsible for?
l [Contribution to Self] What are the opportunities a person working in this job role can get, to
systematically develop oneself and grow in capability? What kind of exposure can one get?
l [Contribution to Organization] What contributions can a person performing this job role make to the
team, other colleagues, and organization?
l [Contribution to Society] What contributions can a person make to society, through this job role?
STEP 3: Make a presentation on your selected Job Role –

l Explain the job role and what one is expected to do in this job role.
l Present the Contribution Possibilities within this job role – Contribution to Self, to Organization, to
Society (answers to the above questions).
PROJECT 3:
Project Goal: To recognize the “contribution choices” that people have made.
STEP 1: Identify any one person you can talk to, who you feel has contributed a lot to his/her field of
work / society.
(HINT: Think of who you can interview amongst – People known to you or your family, Colleagues of your
parents, Neighbors, etc. This person could be a scientist, teacher, businessman, artist, musician, doctor,
bureaucrat, social worker, etc.)
STEP 2: Interview this person and / or search on the internet to find out more, to identify –
l Specific incidents from the person’s life that show how he/she
– Contributed to Self
– Contributed to Team / Local Community / Organization
– Contributed to Society (field of work / nation / etc.)
l Identify what were some of the important “contribution choices” this person made in his/her life, that
helped him make all those contributions.
l Identify whether –
– These incidents were only specific instances where this person contributed; OR
– This person contributed during an entire phase of his/her life; OR
– This person dedicated a large part of his/her life to the contributions i.e. has had a life-time of
contribution.
STEP 3: Make a presentation on this person –

l Give a brief introduction to the person (Name, profession, background, how you came across this
person).
l Present the Contribution Choices this person made, by presenting –
– The contributions he/she has made (to Self, to Organization, to Society). Explain with concrete
examples / incidents in his/her life.
– The choices he/she made that helped him/her make all these contributions.
– Whether these incidents were – special cases, OR part of an entire phase in which this person
contributed, OR were part of his/her life-time of contribution.
PROJECT 4:
Project Goal: To study how – defining the “contribution purpose” of my job role at the 3 levels (Contribution
to Self, Contribution to Organization, Contribution to Society) can change my approach to work.
STEP 1: Identify any 2 working professionals in your locality (with at least 2-3 years of work experience).
(HINT: Think of who you can interview amongst – People known to your family, Colleagues of your parents,
Neighbors, Teachers, People who work in your neighborhood (eg: postman, shopkeepers, fruit /
vegetable seller, rickshaw driver, municipality workers, etc.).
STEP 2: For each of these persons –

l Define the person’s job role (eg: Sales Manager in a soap manufacturing company)
l Do a 30-40 minute brainstorming session along with that person (and your whole project team), to
generate ideas on how to define –
– The personal or self-development purpose the person can work towards in this job role (eg:
develop the confidence to deal with senior / influential people)
– The team or organizational purpose the person can work towards in this job role (eg: build a
network of long-term customer relationships for my company)
– The societal purpose the person can serve through this job role (eg: provide health and hygiene
education to the people in my sales region – which will also build their trust in the brand of our
company and the soap we manufacture)
l At the end of the brainstorming exercise with the person, ask – if he/she were to keep in mind these
3 levels of purpose being served through his/her work –
– How would this change his/her approach to work? What things would he/she do differently?
– What choices would this require him/her to make?
– What challenges is he/she likely to face? And how can he/she overcome these challenges?
STEP 3: Make a presentation on the job roles of each of these 2 people. For each person’s role studied,
present –
l The job role of the person
l The 3 levels of purpose defined (personal or self-development purpose; team or organizational
purpose; societal purpose), that the person can serve through this job role.
l How this way of defining the person’s job role would change his/her approach to work.

This country depends on your contribution
Swami Vivekananda wants each one of us to recognize that it is our contribution alone that
will create the India of tomorrow
“ My faith is in the younger generation, the modern

generation, out of them will come my workers. They
“
will work out the whole problem, like lions... Will
Don’t you see why I am starting
you respond to the call of your nation? Each one of
orphanages, famine-relief works,
you has a glorious future if you dare believe me. Have
etc.? Don’t you see how Sister
a tremendous faith in yourselves, like the faith I had
Nivedita, a British lady, has learnt to
when I was a child, and which I am working out now.
serve Indians so well, by doing even
Have that faith, each one of you, in yourself – that
menial work for them? And can’t
eternal power is lodged in every soul – and you will
you, being Indians, similarly serve
revive the whole of India.
your own fellow-countrymen? Go, all
“
of you, wherever there is an outbreak
Material civilization, nay, even luxury, is necessary to of plague or famine, or wherever the
create work for the poor. Bread! Bread! I do not believe people are in distress, and mitigate
in a God, who cannot give me bread here, giving me their sufferings. At the most you may
eternal bliss in heaven! Pooh! India is to be raised, the die in the attempt – what of that?
poor are to be fed, education is to be spread, and the How many like you are being born
evil of priestcraft is to be removed. More bread, more and dying like worms every day?
opportunity for everybody! What difference does that make to
the world at large? Die you must,
“ It is all right for those who have plenty of money and

position to let the world roll on such, but I call him a
but have a great ideal to die for, and
it is better to die with a great ideal
traitor who, having been educated, nursed in luxury in life. ... and you will yourselves be
by the heart’s blood of the downtrodden millions of benefited by it at the same time that
toiling poor, never even takes a thought for them. you are doing good to your country.
“ Why not do as much as lies within

your power? Even if you cannot give
to others for want of money, surely
you can at least breathe into their ears
Swami Vivekananda at Junagadh – 1
some good words or impart some
good instruction, can’t you? Or does
that also require money?
“ On you lie the future hopes of our

country. I feel extreme pain to see
you leading a life of inaction. Set
yourselves to work – to work! Do
not sit idle, thinking that everything
will be done in time, later on! Mind –
nothing will be done that way!
“ Arise, awake and stop not till the

desired end is reached. Already In Junagadh, Swami Vivekananda came in contact with
Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Dewan of the State.
everything is opening out before us.
Be bold and fear not. It is only in Haridas Desai was a keen student of Advaita Vedanta, a man
of principles and an exalted character.
our scriptures that this adjective is
given unto the Lord – abhih, abhih. Swami Vivekananda developed a deep friendship with
Haridas and wrote several inspiring letters to him.
We have to become abhih, fearless,
and our task will be done. Arise, In one of the letters dated June 20, 1894, Swami Vivekananda
gives Haridas his plan of work for the regeneration of India
awake, for your country needs this and Hinduism.
tremendous sacrifice... The young,
Haridas Desai was to be instrumental in introducing Swami
the energetic, the strong, the well- Vivekananda to at least three of Gujarat’s leading literary
built, the intellectual – for them is figures of those days, Manahsukhram Tripathi, Chaganlal H.
Pandya, and Manilal Nabubhai Dwivedi.
the task.
(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally
Road, Kolkata 14, India)


Swami Vivekananda
UNIT 6:
Embarking on the
Journey to Contributorship
From “Victim” to “Creator of my own Destiny”

by
University
Services
UNIT 6:
Embarking on the
Journey to Contributorship
From “Victim” to “Creator of my own Destiny”
Explore how you can embark on the journey to
contributorship, using the fundamental “building blocks” for
becoming a Contributor – the first building block being a
shift from a “victim” to being a “creator of one’s destiny”;
the second building block being acceptance of the ideal of
contributorship; the third building block being the willingness
to take full responsibility for one’s own development; the
fourth building block being the capacity to reflect on one’s
development and make appropriate modifications.
Field Work (Project) pg. 16

UNIT 6: EMBARKING ON THE JOURNEY TO CONTRIBUTORSHIP
Concept Exploration
EXPLORATION 1:
Non-contributors believe that Contributors believe that they, as human

circumstances are more powerful than beings, are more powerful and can shape
they are the circumstances they are in
I want to achieve the goal.

I can achieve anything And I will find ways to deal
- but for that you with the environment and
must give me the right any challenges that may
conditions and support come up.
to succeed.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. The non-contributor believes he/she is out of control and everything depends on whether
circumstances are favourable or not. Whereas the contributor doesn’t wait for favourable
circumstances to act, he/she finds ways to deal with circumstances and still reach the goal. This
is a shift in one’s approach to any situation. Why is this shift important to your development as a
contributor? Discuss to answer.
Q2. Write about one such contributor you know of, who always sees “what all I can possibly do” in a
situation rather than feeling he/she has no power to do anything. Narrate some incidents from his/
her life that show this.
EXPLORATION 2:
Non-contributors do not step out of their Contributors are willing to step out of their
“comfort zone” “comfort zone” and try out new things
There is always a first time

for everything. At the
I have never done this
most, I will fail a few
before... how can I do it?
times before I succeed.
So why not give it
a try...
REFLECTIONS
Q1. If you wanted to begin “stepping out of your comfort zone”, how would this change they way you
do things? Why is this important to your development as a contributor?
Q2. Write about one such contributor who faces challenging situations positively, with an “I can”
attitude. Narrate some incidents that show this.
EXPLORATION 3:
Non-contributors constantly blame others Contributors recognize that they are

responsible for their own problems,
and so they solve these problems
I have created
All my problems problems for myself
are because of by my past actions.
them! I will now find
solutions for myself
through my future
actions.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. What happens when you stop blaming others, and begin taking responsibility to find your own
solutions? Why is this important to your development as a contributor?
Q2. Write about one such contributor you know of, who in a tough situation did not blame others or
blame circumstances, but instead took the responsibility for finding a way out. Narrate the incident.
EXPLORATION 4:
Non-contributors depend on others Contributors rely on themselves, instead of

waiting for others to solve their problems
I am poor…
I am poor. But I
without others’
help, how can I can learn shoe-
survive? shining… this way I
can earn the money
I need.
REFLECTIONS
Q1. Why is becoming “self-reliant” important to your development as a contributor? Think of any one
example of a situation you have faced, where you could have chosen to depend on others and wait
for them to find answers for you, but instead you chose to be self-reliant and act. Write about this.
Q2. What was the effect of this choice you made in this incident, on your self-confidence and
satisfaction?
Concept Application
Contributors show the courage to step out of their “comfort zone”. Every time we step out
of our “comfort zone”, we take one step forward on the journey of contributorship.
STORY
Aditi was a clerk in a large company. One day, a But Aditi continued to worry over it for days…
senior approached her and offered her a new role…
Aditi, your Hindi and English

No… this is an opportunity
are good. Would you like to take
for me to try out something new.
up “making announcements”
It would be silly to let such an
for the entire company?
opportunity go…
Ma’am, can I observe you
My voice will be heard by while you work? I want to
1000s of people! I won’t be see how you do things…
able to do it… I have never
done it before… I will make
a fool of myself…
Oh no sir!! I
wouldn’t be Sure Aditi!
able to do it! I
am so sorry...
3 weeks later, Aditi accepted the offer and began She did such a great job! People from all over the
making announcements… first doing just a few company praised her…
under the guidance of her senior… then some
Congratulations!!
more… then independently. Her voice went out to You did brilliantly!
1000s of employees…
Q1. Give examples from your life when you have stepped out of your “comfort zone” (like
Aditi in this story). How did you feel?
We can choose to make our life full of meaning and fulfillment. OR we can choose to live
unhappy lives full of “ill-luck” and “bad fate”. Making the right choice is an important
step towards contributorship.
SCENARIO
Megha was a successful business executive until she got married and had a child.
After my daughter was born, I decided that I couldn’t go

back to work, with such long and erratic hours. But at the
same time, I really enjoyed working. So I started working
from home, taking up freelance assignments.
A few years later, I also began taking

lectures as a visiting faculty in a city
college… I really enjoyed the work.
I am glad I can be there for my daughter as she

is growing up. We really have fun together!
MEGHA takes responsibility for making her life meaningful and fulfilling.
Ritu, also a business executive, chose to quit her job on getting married. Family was her focus. Soon she had two
children.
Once both her children began to go to school, she didn’t

know what to do at home, getting bored.
What could I do? Who would give me a job now? A woman has
to sacrifice so much for the sake of her family and children…
If I had been working, I would be earning so much… like

my friends… see the sacrifices I’ve had to make, all for
my husband and children! What a waste my life is now!
My teenage children don’t care for me! They want to do things

their own way… they are even embarrassed to have me around!
RITU feels overpowered by her circumstances. She blames her circumstances and her
family for the unhappiness she experiences in her life.
Q1. In this scenario of Megha and Ritu, what do you think will be the impact of each of their
approaches -
– On their lives?
– On their family?
– On their own fulfillment?
Sometimes we are faced with a situation where there are many difficulties and obstacles.
We can then face the challenges or we can decide to ignore and let the problems
accumulate, in the hope that somebody else will solve them. When we make a decision
to face the challenges, we are beginning our journey of contributorship.
STORY
Padma was assigned as manager to a branch that was doing very badly. It also had many litigations (law cases)
going on against it.
How can I solve this problem that none of the previous

Sharma, these cases
Madam, most of managers have solved? This is not in my power… what can
are a serious problem!
these cases are over I do? Neither do I have the experience
They are taking up so
15 years old… it has nor do I have the contacts needed to
much of our resources…
always been like deal with something like this! Better to
why hasn’t anyone done
this and always will just go on until this branch is closed
anything about it?
be… you know how down and I’m posted elsewhere…
our country’s courts
work… nothing ever
gets solved here… But Padma was not satisfied with
this… she knew that these were just
excuses – after all if she didn’t try and
find a solution then who would?
Don’t waste your time So Padma met with the lawyers to
worrying about this… anyway understand each of the cases, and
the company is thinking of she personally began working out
closing this branch down. solutions with the advice from many of her seniors and
lawyers.
By the time Padma got transferred from that branch 2 years Moreover, the branch business was also turned around. By
later, all the long-pending litigations had been resolved. the time she left, her branch had got an A+ rating from the
Moreover, measures were put into place to avoid such company.
cases in the future…
Q1. Think of any one area where you had chosen to ignore taking any action (putting it off
for a later time, or not doing it at all) because of various difficulties that you think may be
there. Write about this. Also write down, if you were to now take the initiative to complete
this, then what would it involve on your part.
[HINT: This could be something in your locality (eg: your street is full of garbage and no one is doing anything
about it); or something to do with your college (eg: a research project on some subject that will be very
valuable to you and your classmates); or something to do in your home (eg: something is broken and you
need to repair it but it seems too difficult.)]
Contributors recognize that they need to “do something” (they do not just sit and worry
without taking action). When we begin acting and dealing with our circumstances, things
often turn out much better than we imagined. A person taking positive action is embarking
on the journey of contributorship.
STORY
In April 2008, the Punjab state government announced a compensation package of approximately Rs.350 crores to
the landowners, for acquiring of large chunks of land for the expansion of the Chandigarh airport. All banks saw this
as an opportunity - the compensated villagers would need bank accounts to deposit the money they received.
Harnek Singh was a messenger (office boy) in a So Harnek Singh began his rounds going door to door,
public sector bank. His bank was conservative and village to village… meeting with people, getting to know
the manager and staff felt they stood no chance in them… talking to them and talking about his bank...
front of all the aggressive modern banks. Moreover, requesting them to open accounts with his bank.
they didn’t even have a branch in these villages.
Harnek Singh approached his branch manager Beginning early
morning, often
Sir, we are trusted by the his rounds went
people. Why will they not late into the
prefer to deposit with us, if night… When they
we only reach out to them? couldn’t come
to the branch,
the bank team
I know these areas well. I will
went to them and
reach out and go to them…
completed formalities…
they don’t have to come to us.
They trusted Harnek and so they trusted the bank.
The bank got Rs.170 crores of deposits from this effort. Far more
than any other bank. Harnek’s bank also opened a branch in one of
these villages.
Harnek also reciprocated the trust of the villagers. He had become an

“insider” in the community. Villagers were often unable to travel miles
to get to the bank, but were in urgent need of money. Harnek ensured
he got their money to them – at their doorstep.
Q1. Give examples from your life when you took “positive action” in some situation (like
Harnek Singh in this story). How did you feel?
THE FIRST STEP:
We embark on the journey of contributorship when we...
...step out of our “comfort zone” and are willing ...face challenges (instead of ignoring them or
to experiment and fail running away from them)
...do something (instead of worrying) ...choose to fill our own life with meaningful
and fulfilling activities

CASE STUDY
The people of Taj Nagar build their own railway station
I am Hari Kishore from Taj Nagar. You may not have heard of this place. Ours is a
small village near Gurgaon with around 3000 people. Many of us go to Gurgaon,
Delhi and even nearby Rewari every day on work, students go to colleges there and
businessmen regularly travel for business. But until two years ago we had to travel
6 kms to catch a train from either Hailimandi or Patli stations.
Many years ago, when the Railways constructed a railway line passing right through our village, we were very
pleased. At last, we can have our own station, we thought. When our Panchayat members approached the railway
officials with this request, they said they would have to get permission from their higher-ups in the Railway Board.
We waited for a long time. When we did not get any reply, our Panchayat members again reminded the
officials. One of them told us, “We tried our best to get the Railway Board to agree. But they have already overshot
this year’s budget. And they have drawn up plans for the next year also. So they said that they cannot comply
with our request for the time being.”
In 2007, somebody at our village meeting put forth this proposal : “Why should we depend on others for our
station? It is we who need the station. Why not build it ourselves?” But another said, “Will the Railways give us
permission?” Yet another said, “You might build the station, but will the trains stop there? ”
So our village officials made another trip to the Gurgaon railway office. The official was impressed but said “You
can go ahead with constructing the station. But ensure that you follow the Railway rules. Once you complete it, we
will arrange for trains to halt there.”
In late 2007, a panchayat meeting was held to which all villagers were invited. Here, a resolution was passed –
“We will build the Taj Nagar railway station from our own resources.”
Accordingly, a Gram Seva Samiti was formed which took the responsibility
for collecting funds for the construction.
Plans were drawn up and sent to the Railway office.

Once they were approved, the fund raising work
started. The Samiti head said, “Each of us will contribute as much as we can spare. Let’s see
how much we can collect.” Each of us contributed according to our capacity.
In the month of January 2008, construction began. Some hurdles came in the way but by
now we were sure that we could find solutions and that is how it happened. It has taken us 3 years to build the
station but finally it is ready - platforms and a ticket counter are ready. The Railways are now going to help us to
construct a waiting room.
Q1. Look at this case study where the people of Taj Nagar took up the responsibility and built
their own railway station. Discuss to explore what steps these people took to embark on
the journey of contributorship. Write these down.
6.6: FIELD WORK
PROJECT 1:
Project Goal: To embark on the journey of contributorship.
STEP 1: In your project team, brainstorm to identify any one “Contribution Project” your team can take
up.
(This could be an initiative in your college or in your locality)
Choose your “Contribution Project” carefully, by ensuring that the project –

l Is in an area of work that is new to all of you, so that it will challenge you to step out of your
“comfort zone” and face challenges (instead of avoiding them).
l Addresses some long-standing problems that the people are facing, where your team can take
concrete action and “do something” to solve these problems and therefore help those people.
l Will help all of you (project team members) develop yourselves (contribution to self); contribute to
your organization or community; contribute to society in some way.
STEP 2: Plan your Contribution Project –

l Define the “contribution goal” you seek to achieve by the end of this project
(Define the goal at all 3 levels of – contribution to self, contribution to organization / community,
contribution to society)
l What are the key steps (or sub-goals) you need to meet so as to achieve your goal?
l What is involved in making your project a success?
l Who else do you need to get involved if you want this project to be a success?
(eg: Teachers with authority, Parents, Family friends, Local authorities, etc.)
l How will you get them involved, explain the project to them, and help them see the value / benefit
of this project?
l Assign roles and responsibilities to each team member in your project team (what each team
member will be responsible for).
l Define a time-line and plan your schedules on how you will go about completing this project within
a specific time frame.
STEP 3: Make a presentation on your Contribution Project Plan.
STEP 4: Present your Contribution Project Plan to the class (in the presentations session of Unit 6).
l Take any feedback / help from your classmates and your faculty to improve the chances of success
of your Contribution Project.
l Refine your plan accordingly.
STEP 5: Implement your project according to your Contribution Project Plan (take guidance of your
faculty wherever needed).
STEP 6: Once you complete your Contribution Project, make a presentation on –

l The Contribution Project goals you achieved.
l How this project challenged each of you (team members) and made you step out of your “comfort
zone”. How did all of you gain through this process? What did you learn through this process?
What new capabilities did you develop?
l The success you achieved – in terms of “inner success” and “external success”.
– Mention the benefits to the organization / community and to society.
– Mention the personal fulfillment, confidence and other rewards all of you felt you received.
– Mention the rewards you all felt you received as a team (both inner and external rewards).

Develop the will to contribute
Where does the power to contribute come from? It comes from within ourselves - from our
commitment to be a contributor, practice contribution and to experience its fruits in our own
lives. This commitment manifests itself as a gigantic will to contribute.
“ Have you got the will to surmount

mountain-high obstructions? If “ But saying, “I can”, won’t do. Show me through action
what you can do... Get up, and put your shoulders to
the whole world stands against the wheel – how long is this life for? As you have come
you sword in hand, would you still into this world, leave some mark behind. Otherwise,
dare to do what you think is right? where is the difference between you and the trees and
stones? They, too, come into existence, decay and die.
If you like to be born and to die like them, you are at
liberty to do so.
“ Our mistakes have places here. Go

on! Do not look back if you think
you have done something that is
not right. Now, do you believe
“ What is the cause of evolution? Desire. The animal
wants to do something, but does not find the
you could be what you are today, environment favourable, and therefore develops a new
had you not made those mistakes body. Who develops it? The animal itself, its will. You
before? Bless your mistakes, then. have developed from the lowest amoeba. Continue
They have been angels unawares. to exercise your will and it will take you higher still.
Blessed be torture! Blessed be The will is almighty. If it is almighty, you may say, why
happiness! Do not care what be cannot I do everything? But you are thinking only of
your lot. Hold on to the ideal. your little self. Look back on yourselves from the state
March on! Do not look back of the amoeba to the human being; who made all that?
upon little mistakes and things. Your own will. Can you deny then that it is almighty?
In this battlefield of ours, the dust That which has made you come up so high can make
of mistakes must be raised. Those you go higher still. What you want is character,
who are so thin-skinned that they strengthening of the will.
cannot bear the dust, let them get
out of the ranks.
“
Practise hard... You have to plunge in
and work, without thinking of the
Swami Vivekananda at Junagadh – 2
result. If you are brave enough, in six

months you will be a perfect yogi. But
those who take up just a bit of it and
a little of everything else make no
progress. It is of no use simply to take
a course of lessons. To those who are
full of tamas, ignorant and dull – those
whose minds never get fixed on any
idea, who only crave for something to
amuse them – religion and philosophy
are simply objects of entertainment.
These are the un-persevering. They
hear a talk, think it very nice, and then
go home and forget all about it. To Swami Vivekananda must have enjoyed the company
of Manahsukhram, who was his host for a few days
succeed, you must have tremendous at Junagadh, as their common interest was Vedanta
perseverance, tremendous will. “I will philosophy.
drink the ocean,” says the persevering Manahsukhram Tripathi, was born in Nadiad, the
soul, “at my will mountains will hometown of Haridas Desai.
crumble up.” Have that sort of energy, He was a great scholar, essayist, biographer and
that sort of will, work hard, and you translator. He had a lot of reservations about the new
reformist wave inspired by Brahmo Samaj and others.
will reach the goal. He became the protagonist of Sanskritic revival in
Gujarati literature by starting with the help of like-minded
scholars, an association named as Dharmasabha in
1870. He was the editor of Dharma Prakasha, which
became the mouthpiece for the revival of the religious
glory of ancient India in Gujarat.
(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road,
Kolkata 14, India)


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Swami Vivekananda

Contributor Personality Program

An Adani Group Initiative

for students and faculty of

Who are Contributors? How are they fundamentally different

Swami Vivekananda speaks to you pg. 2-5

Concept Exploration pg. 6-11

Concept Application pg. 12-23

Field Work (projects) pg. 24

Swami Vivekananda speaks to you

“What is personality?” Life Snapshot 1

The young Narendranath Dutta

“ In our families there are the heads; some of

“ Coming to great leaders of mankind, we always

Travels in America & England

“ The ideal of all education, all training, should

The Contributor Teacher is concerned

“Payal, do you The Non-Contributor Teacher is

The Contributor Government Official

The Contributor Sweeper cares enough

The Non-Contributor Sweeper sees her

My duty time is over… I’m

The Contributor Team Member always

The Non-Contributor Team Member

The Contributor’s Checklist

 Performing work activities well

 Demonstrating human concern

Look at the case examples shown in the 4 Explorations:

Non-contributor Achieving the goal (completing the syllabus

Demonstrating human concern (caring for

Exploration 2: The Government Official

“Don’t worry sir, when your Performing work activity well

Non-contributor Achieving the goal (ensuring the citizen’s

Being ethical (being honest; fulfilling the

Exploration 3: The Sweeper

Which of these do you think would be met by the“Contributor

Performing work activity well

Exploration 4: The Team Member

Non-contributor Achieving the goal (striving to win)

Being ethical (playing a fair game; with a spirit

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1.1:

SHYLESH is a non-contributor team leader VIKAS is a contributor team leader

Q2. What would be the effect of

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1.2:

The Contributor proactively takes up work

SUDHA AT WORK SATISH AT WORK

During appraisal his boss was pleased! He had

– How does it affect one’s own capability?

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1.3:

Brother, why are you

Oh, you don’t understand. His

But how can we stop our work ????!!!!!

Q1. Reflect on and discuss about the pointlessness of their work.

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1.4:

This report is needed urgently for a sudden strategy

Lets get down to it immediately! If we

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1.5:

Based on a true case story

APPLICATION EXAMPLE 1.6:

SOHAN IN COLLEGE WHEN SOHAN STARTED WORKING

1.7: FIELD WORK

You will find videos, concept presentations, quizzes

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