'assertive', 'insistent', 'nit-picking'...

Difference in perception often crops up over people. Some say I am 'assertive', some say I am insistent what I was right, some others say I nit-pick on others perennially (to show that I am right?). I was reminded of one interview of Carly Fiorina soon after she 'quit' HP. I dont know why but I was always impressed of her and even business wise, she did many things that were good for HP than those that were wrong. Her reply just seemed to reiterate the same to me that she talks sense.

Q: What is the worst mistake you ever made in your career, and how did you try to fix it? - Thomas Keenan, San Jose

A: The mistakes are always about people. And sometimes people think I'm copping out when I say that, but not at all. A leader's most important decisions are about people. Who do you put in which jobs? How long do you leave them in a job? You misjudge people.

Although as phrases/words, 'confidence', 'insistence', 'nit-picking' may seem mutually exclusive if not disjoint, I think they are inherently interlinked. Judgements and self-evaluation of judgements are quite critical in a person's disposition towards life. What other feel/opine is basically immaterial unless the person desperately wants to make others happy and do what (s)he personally does not believe in. My experience is my 'judgement' on people has generally been very good and I think I am very good in 'quick judgment' of characters, which Ian Chappell says is very important in captaincy. People including my siblings think that I judge 'too fast' but I am not sure if it is a 'conscious' decision. I think we all 'estimate' others but just that we may say so and we may take more time. Some believe in face value of words that are told. I dont depend on face value of anything. As Carly of HP says, there have been misjudgements of people.

In my case, I think probably it is a mixture of misjudgement and 'confidence'. I may know that the person concerned CANNOT do it but thought because of relationship with me, (s)he may break the 'society' bound restrictions to do what they feel they should do. In general, I think most people, especially women (including my sisters) are single minded. Especially since birth, we are most often selfish. We cry when something is grabbed from us, taken away and even worse, given to another child. Gradually as we start 'seeing' life, we see that some are not as fortunate as we are and we compromise. Even some of my relatives have asked whether I am a communist. I dont know what 'communist' means but I dont believe in 'monopolising' anything. As they say 'success is often counted sweetest by those who never succeed'. Once I succeed, I renounce. We should give chance to others - maybe that is the 'communist' in me.

Coming back to what I started - I am 'assertive' that I am good enough for anything - whether it is a quiz competition or crossword solving or playing chess/cricket/table-tennis etc, I am insistent that I am good enough even if I fail in the same and I nit-pick those who continue to play even after winning once. For example in Landmark Quiz, I hate to see some people qualifying year after year for the finals. I mean beyond the first 'year' thrill, there is nothing to seek for, atleast in my opinion. Again to quote Ian Chappell, I hate people who cant stop the merry go round. I think it is our duty to let others do what we could do. There is no point in claiming 'ownership' or 'monopoly' over anything, after life is much bigger than these silly thrills of life.