I was a brash youth long ago, when I was doing my MBA and then in my job with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. I had revolutionary, off beat solutions for most of the problems and was always game to test my cranky ideas

But one thing I lacked then, and now, was diplomacy. 1/n

During my MBA, many a time, I would come up with extreme workable solutions, only to be thwarted by someone else whose idea, though acceptable, was inferior in quality. No way I am claiming that my ideas were always better than others 2/n

There were instances when my ideas were far superior in quality,& should have been implemented. In the end, every single time only compromise solutions/ideas that were average in quality got the nod ahead of the best solution on the table. I have seen this happen to others 3/n

The practice persisted in my jobs. The status quo, dont rock the boat ideas and solutions found favour with the powers that be, than path breaking ideas. I remember a classic case. Early in my career as a Sales Officer with HPCL, I went up to my GM and gave him an idea. 4/n

The Petrol pumps (dispensing units) were always installed parallel to the road in a line. A single row will contain 3-4 pumps, with driveways on either side. This resulted in a queuing problem. 5/n

Many an occassion, I had noticed that there were cars in the queue behind the last car being filled, when the 2-3 pumps ahead were lying vacant.

My suggestion was to install the pumps at 45 degrees angle to the main road/main driveway. 6/n

This would ensure cars will not have to queue up unless all the petrol pumps are engaged. An original, simple idea back in 1990. But I was made fun off. I persisted, send the idea to our CYI (Coin Your Idea) scheme, but never heard anything about it. 7/n

Almost 8 years down the line, after I had quit HPCL, I returned to the same office to make a courtesy call. I heard the then GM, who was Sr.Manager in the office when I proposed the idea, discuss in admiring tones, how our competitor 8/n

BPCL had gone in for restructuring their outlets along the same lines I proposed all those years ago, and the benefit that they have reaped. I could but smile, and didnt say a word. At least it proved to me that my idea was not bad, after all. That was enough for me. 9/n

I was reminded of this when I read a review of the best-selling novel in America a few years ago The Overton Window by Glenn Beck. It is based on a Model by Joe Overton. 10/n

The idea is that at any given time there is an acceptable area of ideas and debate, with things too extreme being excluded. Overton’s point was that a skillful politician can move the window. (Those interested can Google for more details) 11/n

I should read the book one of these days, for then I might be able to make some sense of what happened long ago.

Of course I found a way out of my predicament by becoming an Entrepreneur. But that is another story n/n