The Unexpected

I was in a training the other day when our instructor said that "Feedback is the breakfast of Champions". I didn't realize the true meaning of the sentence until this weekend that transformed my view of how I look and take things with people. The quote was simply used as a mean to make the student body comprising of Directors and Managers of the company to learn not to wait until the last minute in order to apprecaite or provide healthy criticism. In fact, a proactive approach only loosens the relationships in the corporate and ensure smooth relationship between a Manager and his direct reports. It is also used as a motivational tool from the numerous tools that managers have access to. I was surely short of that motivation this past weekend when my wife snubbed on me serving me with the feedback that has indeed led me to be a champion.


The issue: Sitting idle on a lazy Sunday watching the football game

The real issue: Can't see husband relaxing for one skins game (that they lost to Lions)

Mode of communication: "Until I motivate, no one works on a Sunday" (my son glanced at me, gave me a cynical smile and continued with his cartoon on tv)

The punishment in mind: Shopping from Bed Bath and Beyond to get Window Treatments

The final verdict: Either be happy or married (just kidding)

Result: Champion of putting window treatments is born and is ready to take on another project

My dear wife dragged me out of home in the first quarter of the Skins-Lions game that was both boring and interesting as I was cheering up for Lions maiden win in over 21 months against a depleted Redskins team. It was hyped so much that some skins fans are already talking about the practice season during their next off season (LOL). We reached Bed Bath and Beyond (BBB) with tonnes of coupons in hand (at least 10-11) and headed out straight to the window treatment section.

For the first time in my life, my wife just took 20 min to decide on the color/style and other factors to pick up an item that usually takes eons (very common for the female species all around the world). My son was so bored in just 20 minutes that he decided to take a nap in the shopping cart. Poor guy, I brought him a feather pillow and placed it around his head that was now resting easily on the handle of the shopping cart and giving him a good support for the brooding head and neck.

We checked out with at least 10-15 items and with only 10 coupons in hand, we decided to let go some of the grudges of not calling up all the friends and waking up the neighbors to request additional coupons. Finally, with bill paid and carrying the cart, I could sense the feeling of some achievement on my wife's face that was gleaming with the success that Lions were getting on the field against the skins.

We reached home and even before I could think of switching on the television (this time to only check the score of a not so lucky South Africa being routed out by the least expected England), I heard the marching orders to help in putting up the treatments. With excruciating pain and agony, I dragged myself in the act of bringing my in-famous tool kit and climbed up the stool. With a man on mission to live up to the healthy criticism, I pulled up my socks and finished installing the curtain rod, sheer and the actual curtain in over 90 min. Yes, it was demanding, hot and sweaty, but the fruit of it was a beautiful smile on my wife's face (I was duped with the smile as it was for how brainy and smart my wife is in making me work and getting the window treatment done without paying those pranksters from either Home Depot or Lowes).

I was proud of myself too, with the accomplishment of putting down one set of curtains on the window all by myself, was something that I had never dreamt in my life. The feeling was short lived as I turned my face to her and realized that the inevitable has happened. No, the curtain was not on the wrong side, neither was it incorrectly hung, we simply had forgotten to bring in all the required items from the store which will make me go through one more round of pain and agony to miss yet another game (perhaps next weekend).

As a super woman, my wife headed to the store to get the remaining items, while I took this opportunity to really be the champion and show to my wife that "Feedback is indeed breakfast of the Champions" and I was not going to be left behind. I single handedly completed the installation of all rods, curtains and sheer on the longest window of our house only to surprise both myself and my dear wife who was already dejected by the fact that stores had closed on a Sunday evening (it was past 6 PM) and we have to wait yet another day before she claims victory. Although compliments, hugs and kisses flew in from left and right for the wonderful achievement, the pain of not being able to complete the project on time (and within budget) still left her gloomy and sad.



I promised her to complete the project before we head out tonight to celebrate Dussehra and kick-off our celebrations during the festive season of Diwali this year. I am surely now the "Champion of Champions" in fixing window treatment all because of the power breakfast she served me with her very healthy feedback.