Career Lessons rom IPL AuctioN
Last two days saw millions of dollars trade hands as the biggest cricketing league (IPL) held player auctions for the season ahead.
Here are my 2 cents in terms of the learning from the auction.
1. We are compensated for the relative value we add to the team
Some of the biggest names fetched fewer dollar than the niche/ specialist players lesser experienced players. Why?
Because there is a relatively value of the player for the team based on the team's needs at that point of time. So if you already have 3 opening batsmen in your team, you wouldn't bid (or bid lower) for the fourth one even if he is world class. You pick people that provide complimentary skills to what the team already has. This means that even if you have extraordinary talent and a worthy record to show, you may not be the most sought after in that moment.
This isn't very different for what happens in our career. We may not always find the best paying jobs because we are skilled. Being skilled is a precondition, but getting the role and what you get compensated for it depends on what your prospective employer/ team needs at that time.
2. You cannot let your value be determined by what you get paid
Imagine if the self worth of cricketers was solely dependent on what they fetched at the auction. It would mean many careers would get finished abruptly, and some even before they start.
Many times at workplace we evaluate our success based on our increments or how much money we make relatively to our peers. It's akin to saying that since I didn't get the right bid, i am not successful or valuable. Or maybe we learn from the sportsmen and believe in our value & skills as an absolute, and keep what we get compensated for it in a season as separate event. With focus on our skills, we work to amplify then.
The fact that Bumrah was retained for 12 crores while Deepak Chahar fetched 14 crores doesn't mean Bumrah's value is lesser. It means Chahar had a great day.
3. It's a giant wheel
Careers, much like the auctions, are a giant wheel. When we start our career we need to stand in the line and wait our turns much like the uncapped players wait their turn for the big league. When we get our turn, we have the opportunity to shine bright, but irrespective of how bright we shine we will have to bow out at some stage.
For instance, in this year's auction, Suresh Raina, who has been amongst the highest run getters in the league since its inception didn't even get a bid this time.
