Life in most situations can be equated to living in a pond as part of a school of fish. Whether you agree with this analogy or not is not the crux of the discussion here; in fact it isn't my prerogative to convince you of this statement. What I do want to point is that once we assume this statement to be true, we must then decide what kind of pond we want to live in. In other words, the quintessential question becomes 'Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond, or be a small fish in a big pond?'
For example, a brilliant student joins the best of business schools only to discover the intense competition among others like him. He has therefore become a small fish in the big pond. Now, when it comes to jobs (which, I am told, is the main reason for coming to a graduate program in India), our 'small fish' might not get the best jobs because there are so many other small fish just like him. The job he gets has the potential of being equivalent to the job he would have gotten if he was ' a big fish' in a 'small pond'.
Similarly, if our candidate once again joins the best company, one that is then equivalent of a large pond, he becomes the small fish yet again. He then discovers the intense competition in the firm due to other small fish just like him.
The intense competition in both the aforementioned cases means that while his best effort in a small pond might have been really the best amongst other 'fish', in a large pond with many small fish, his best effort might correspond only to an average result. Finally, as a colleague of mine pointed out, when mentioning achievements, one need not mention the type of 'pond'. Therefore, being a big fish in a small pond is definitely more advantageous there. So does it behoove someone to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?
Being a small fish in a big pond definitely has its advantages. For example, being in a prestigious business school (the equivalent of a big pond) provides an individual with a brand name and unparalleled networking opportunities. Being a part of a prestigious company once again provides the brand name, networking, and excellent exit opportunities.
Many of us look to join the big pond with the intention of creating good exit opportunities, but at what point of time does this actually stop? When do we finally say this my small pond and this is where I stop trying to be a part of a big pond?
I am not trying to discourage anyone from joining a big pond, but I beg my audience to consider this small introspective thought before making a decision...
For example, a brilliant student joins the best of business schools only to discover the intense competition among others like him. He has therefore become a small fish in the big pond. Now, when it comes to jobs (which, I am told, is the main reason for coming to a graduate program in India), our 'small fish' might not get the best jobs because there are so many other small fish just like him. The job he gets has the potential of being equivalent to the job he would have gotten if he was ' a big fish' in a 'small pond'.
Similarly, if our candidate once again joins the best company, one that is then equivalent of a large pond, he becomes the small fish yet again. He then discovers the intense competition in the firm due to other small fish just like him.
The intense competition in both the aforementioned cases means that while his best effort in a small pond might have been really the best amongst other 'fish', in a large pond with many small fish, his best effort might correspond only to an average result. Finally, as a colleague of mine pointed out, when mentioning achievements, one need not mention the type of 'pond'. Therefore, being a big fish in a small pond is definitely more advantageous there. So does it behoove someone to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond?
Being a small fish in a big pond definitely has its advantages. For example, being in a prestigious business school (the equivalent of a big pond) provides an individual with a brand name and unparalleled networking opportunities. Being a part of a prestigious company once again provides the brand name, networking, and excellent exit opportunities.
Many of us look to join the big pond with the intention of creating good exit opportunities, but at what point of time does this actually stop? When do we finally say this my small pond and this is where I stop trying to be a part of a big pond?
I am not trying to discourage anyone from joining a big pond, but I beg my audience to consider this small introspective thought before making a decision...
4 comments:
very thoughtful dude...i would prefer to be in a pool where I am constantly motivated to do things I never did...i believe that in both places a fish gets enough chances to prove its worth...so the real deal is to not become a smug as a big fish or a small fish with inferiority complex...we all have brains of almost same shape and size...but the spirit can be tiny or huge....
That's why I say, "Get out of the pond mentality altogether". What's the use of being another rat in the rat-race...What even the BIG fish don't realize is that they are also going to face the same situation sometime. It's definitely better if you have this epiphany as early as possible.
Hmmm... Thats a good thought
sad but true!
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