KALACHAKARAM AND BALANCE SCORE CARD

Kalachakaram (Life cycle) and Balance Score card

Fleeting thoughts:

Can there be a balance score card for one’s own life? How do you measure it?

Many of us are familiar with Balance Score card methodology that is being deployed in Organisations to examine performance in four areas:

(1)   Financial analysis, the most traditionally used performance indicator, includes assessments of measures such as operating costs and return-on-investment;

(2)   Customer analysis looks at customer satisfaction and retention;

(3)   Internal analysis looks at production and innovation, measuring performance in terms of maximizing profit from current products and following indicators for future productivity; and

(4)   Finally, learning and growth analysis explores the effectiveness of management in terms of measures of employee satisfaction and retention and information system performance.

Financial analysis (ROI) 1.      Profit 2.      Growth 3.      Market Share 4.      Results Vs. Budget / operating plan	Customer Analysis 1.      Customer opinion of Service / product 2.      Customer retention 3.      Customer complaints
People (Learning and Growth) 1.      Employee Retention 2.      Employee Capabilities 3.      Employee Satisfaction 4.      Employee Productivity	Internal analysis (Process/ Quality) 1.      Productivity 2.      Quality – Errors, Defects, Reworks 3.      Speed, Cost, time etc.,

I attempted to apply this modern HR assessment methodology to one’s life cycle and assess how performance assessment of one’s own life can be done.

I took recourse to Tamil literature and I felt Abhirami Andhadi gives a clear insight into measuring one’s own life and performance (satisfaction) levels.  I have attempted to give English translations to make those who cannot read Tamil script understand this.

Abhirami Andhadi

தனம் தரும், கல்வி தரும், ஒருநாளும் தளர்வு அறியா  மனம் தரும், தெய்வ வடிவும் தரும், நெஞ்சில் வஞ்சம் இல்லா இனம் தரும், நல்லன எல்லாம் தரும், அன்பர் என்பவர்க்கே கனம் தரும் பூங் குழலாள், அபிராமி கடைக்கண்களே.

Family Balance score card (Executive summary)

Learning and Growth கல்வி (Education)	Family (Customer) நெஞ்சில் வஞ்சம் இல்லா இனம் (An association of family, friends without any blemish or malice)
Financial தனம்( Wealth)	Internal (quality) தளர்வு அறியா மனம், தெய்வ வடிவும் (A mind that does not get tired and bored and is divine),

I went further into Abhirami Bhattar compositions to get this expanded Family balance score card

Education (Learning and Growth) கலையாத கல்வியும் (Knowledge that you do not forget) சலியாத மனமும் (A mind that does not get tired and bored) மாறாத வார்த்தையும் (The promises that are never broken) கோணாத கோலும் (Governance which is always just)	Family, Friends and Associates (Customers) ஓர் கபடு வாராத நட்பும் (A friendship that has no blemish or misunderstanding) அன்பு அகலாத மனைவியும் (A wife whose love never wanes) தவறாத சந்தானமும் (A progeny that does not waver) பெரிய தொண்டெராடு கூட்டு (Association and company of your great devotees)
Financial (Wealth) குன்றாத வளமையும் (A wealth that does not dwindle) தடைகள் வாராத கொடையும் (The charity without any a road block) தொலையாத நிதியமும் (A treasure that is never is lost)	Internal (Health and Quality) குறையாத வயதும் (Age that does not diminish) குன்றாத இளமையும் (A youth that does not decline) கழுபிணி இலாத உடலும் (A body that is free from all diseases) தாழாத கீர்த்தியும் (A fame that never fades or falls) ஒரு துன்பம் இல்லாத வாழ்வும் ( A life which never has any sorrow) நின்பாதத்தில் அன்பும் ( Blessed with love to surrender in Divine feet)

For simplicity, if we assume we have an average life span of say 64 years (although this can now be taken at 72 years) – this can be divided into four equal parts of 16 years each.  The following table makes it simple for us to divide our lives into 8 equal parts and allocate objectives for the sub-parts of our life cycle of say 64 years. 

In the end, we can assess whether we have performed well in our lives. I have applied this concept on a sample life.

Lasting memories:

Memories of Past learnings reveal that both Hinduism and Christianity have dwelt with this subject of stages of life in a similar way.   Hindu Aryan evolution of life talks of Four stages of one’s life while William Shakespeare has depicted Seven Ages of Man.-  a monologue from Act 2 Scene 7 of his play "As You Like It”

All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages

Figure 1 - four stages of Aryan Hindu life - painting on the ceiling of PMO visitors room

Figure 2: Pictorial depiction of Shakespeare’s seven Ages of Man - As you Like It Act 2 Scene 7 (Monologue by Jacques)

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Hindu Aryan evolution of Life	Seven Ages of Man
Brahmacharya - The Celibate Student: This is a period of formal education. It lasts until the age of 25, during which, the young male leaves home to stay with a guru and attain both spiritual and practical knowledge. During this period, he is called a brahmachari, and is prepared for his future profession, as well as for his family, and social and religious life ahead. .	At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
	And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school.
Grihastha - The Married Family Man: This period begins when a man gets married, and undertakes the responsibility for earning a living and supporting his family. At this stage, Hinduism supports the pursuit of wealth (artha) as a necessity, and other pleasures (kama), under certain defined social and cosmic norms	And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress' eyebrow
	Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth.
	And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part.
Vanaprastha - The Hermit in Retreat: This stage of a man begins when his duty as a householder comes to an end: He has become a grandfather, his children are grown up, and have established lives of their own. At this age, he should renounce all physical, material and other pleasures, retire from his social and professional life, leave his home, and go to live in a forest hut, spending his time in prayers. He is allowed to take his wife along, but is supposed to maintain little contact with the family	The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound.
Sannyasa - The Wandering Recluse: At this stage, a man is supposed to be totally devoted to God. He is a sanyasi, he has no home, no other attachment; he has renounced all desires, fears and hopes, duties and responsibilities. He is virtually merged with God, all his worldly ties are broken, and his sole concern becomes attaining moksha, or release from the circle of birth and death	Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

It is also believed that every one has 120 years of life and at 60 years you reach the same planetary position when you were actually born – so you get an opportunity to re-calibrate your life activities post 60 years for the balance period and start again.

Note: A plea to put down your views, comments in the blog itself in the space meant for comments.