When I look around and observe
people’s behavior, I am often reminded of something I learnt during my correspondence
course in Accounting. That is, the Going Concern Concept, which supposes that a
company will
continue to operate indefinitely, and not go out of business and liquidate its assets.
Accounting is not my favourite subject
at all, not even one of them, so I do not remember most of what I have learnt of
it. Yet I remember this one concept because I am able to relate it to life and understand
life (read people’s behavior) – at least sometimes.
When applied to life, the Going
Concern Concept simply means assuming that life will go on endlessly without
any need to make the slightest change or let go totally. See what I mean? All
of a sudden, several thoughts arise, and I am compelled to see both the good
and the not-so-good sides of the Concept.
Going Concern Concept applied to life is
the reason
* Why
we keep our efforts going even in difficult situations. It is the prime fuel
for the fire in the the belly when we take on challenges with the hope that we will
overcome them and emerge victorious someday.
* Why
we are urged to plan for our future. Be it investing into education and
acquiring degrees, putting money into a new savings scheme, training for the
next marathon or beginning a new diet, we do it because life seems permanent and
predictable, atleast to a certain extent.
Sadly, the same Concept applied to
life is also the reason
* Why
many mindlessly chase their dreams even at the cost of their own health, peace
and joy. The ‘I-me-myself’ attitude that is so evident these days, is bound to
corrode into the quality of one’s life sooner or later, and make it difficult
for those around also. This is futile, for, very soon, the going stops and
everything hankered after is left behind when the person is gone. The
Ambassador car was once ‘Road King’ and a status symbol for those who owned it,
but is it now?
* Why
some put off responsibilities. When asked about her saving habits despite
earning a good salary, a 20-something lady boldly said that she spends all her
earnings because “life is to be enjoyed”. As for savings, she opined that
anyway her salary would keep increasing and she would start saving when she really
had surplus funds to save.
I know a few well-educated
and affluent people who put off making a will vowing to do it someday – so much
for their confidence in that ‘someday’ which may never come their way.
* For
the hesitation behind doing good deeds. Different people refrain from
registering their organs for donation for different reasons – superstitions,
fear of the unknown and so on. One stands out in my memory because she said she
would considering registering as a donor when she grew old.
One of my dear colleagues
plans to volunteer in old age homes after her retirement – another case of
‘someday’ planning.
Notwithstanding the various diligent
efforts we indulge in to keep ill-health and other adversities from affecting
the quality of our life, or cutting it short abruptly, we do not know when
exactly our end will come.
Hence, it is for our own good that we
build our plans and aspirations around the unfailing reality of life and its
mortality, and live meaningfully and fruitfully. Needless to say, we have but
one life to live, which is different from a business concern which can be wound
up and a new one begun.
Published in LinkedIn - 29th March 2019
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