I am a Software Engineer. I earn “just less than enough” money for a comfortable life. I want to increase my earnings, and I strive for it. But because of high inflation, the prices of essential commodities increase steeper than the increase in my income. I have a good feedback mechanism from my brain to body. The feedback from my brain, makes my body work much harder. As a result, I tend to spend more time in office. I tend to cut my sleep and spend more time to enhance my technical skills. I am always struggling and I am always hopeful. And, I am quite sure that it is the right way to live (or right way to fight for existence).
Recently I happened to read a book on “Extreme Programming”. The book discusses about various basic principles which must be followed to become a successful software developer (on individual level as well as an organization). First and foremost principle being talked about is Humanity. It discusses about basic human needs (of any human being) which must be fulfilled in order to make one excel. This is quite shocking to me. It raises serious doubts in my mind regarding my life style and I am now becoming suspicious if I have been living my life on the right track all along. Let us have a look at the basic needs which this book talks about.
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HUMAN NEEDS
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* Basic Safety
* Accomplishment
* Belonging
* Growth
* Intimacy
Some other Needs which must be satisified, but out of work place.
* Rest
* Exercise
* Socialization
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HERE I AM
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(1) Basic Safety: Fredom from Hunger, physical harm and threat to loved once. Fear of Job loss threatens this need.
I work for a small IT company. We are profitable and we are expanding. So, I do not fear any immediate job loss. But, deep inside (my subconcious brain) I am aware that my job may not last forever. I stay far far away from my parents. I have not much time to meet my friends and relatives. I keep sitting in front of a dumb PC all the day, which makes me vulnerable to many chronic deseases. While driving, eating, sleeping, I think only about my work.
(2) Accomplishment: The opportunity and ability to contribute to their society.
As a child I wanted to become an administrator, or a teacher or a journalist. So that I could directly contribute to the society. But I ended up becoming an Engineer. Since I wanted to contribute to my society and country, I joined a job in Public Sector. Soon after my joining, I realized that there was not much to contribute (neither to society nor to myself) at that place. The project which I was working on was late by many years and after the completion it got scrapped (after around 10 years of total struggle and 3 years of my contribution). I decided to change my job after that. Now I work for a private company which makes multi-media products. I make products which are being used by human beings. I should be more than happy that I am contributing to society by providing them these cool products. But, I personally do not believe that society really needs these products much. These products are being made, so that investors (which form a very very small section of society) can become richer and richer. As per my opinion, society needs other major attention: There are poor people who need food, who need education, who need healthy life.
(3) Belonging: the ability to identify with a group from which they receive validation and accountability and contribute to its shared goals.
I do not have much time to associate with any other group than my organization. The primary goal of my organization is to make products faster (without wanting to implement a well managed process which might improve the over-all efficieny) and at cheaper costs. The people whom I work with, are my good friends. But more than that we all are competitors to each other. So we deny any true appreciation to each other.
(4) Growth: the opportunity to expand their skills and perspective.
My company helps me to expand my skills by asking me to work on different techonologies after ever few months. This exerts a high mental stress on me. More than finding any growth of perspective, I feel that my body and mind are GROWING old faster.
(5) Intimacy: the ability to understand and be understood deeply by others.
My PC and my cell-phone have become the most intimate things in my life.
(6) Rest:
I beleive in working hard. All work and no play has become the guiding principle of my life.
(7) Exercise:
For last two years I have been planning to start regular daily exercise.
(8) Socialization:
I used to meet my friends over drinks, every other day. But these days I fail to find time for that.
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New Resolutions
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If you are a Software Engineer working in a small organization (in a busy town of India). It is most likely that you live a life which is quite similar to mine. I am not sure what could be done to improve the human factor of our lives, but I have decided to start on the following activities starting from tomorrow (I hope that this tomorrow comes).
(1) Regular Exercise
(2) Belonging: I am planning to do something which helps my next generations. To start with, I am going to contribute technical and non-technical knowledge to kids them via seminars and books.
(3) Socialization: I am going to meet at least two friends, every week.
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MASLOW’s HIERARCHY
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I realized that I have totally forgotten about “Maslow’s Hierarchy” of human needs, which I had read in my school days. Probably this topic was included in our course-work, so that we can appreciate our (and other’s) needs as a human being, and strive to achieve them. This is likely to make our lives happier. But, we (me and my course-mates) always viewed our course-work as a mean to get out of schools, and enjoy the lives outside. So it is unlikely that any one of us (me and my course-mates) remember this hierarchy. I am just revisiting this hierarchy.
Bottom
| Physiological Needs: Breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion
| Safety: Security of body, of employment, of resources, of morality, of the family, of health, of property
| Love/Belonging: Friendship, family, sexual intimacy
| Esteem: respect of others, respect by others
V Self-actualization: Morality, Creativity, Spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts.
Top
I feel that most of my Top Needs are now being fulfilled. I use my creativity at work place, I crack a lot of tough problems, and I have learned to accept the facts. But Bottom needs are mostly unsatisfied. I am not sure how lucky I should consider myself having reached the top of this pyramid.
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MORE on HUMAN NEEDS
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Nine basic needs as per a web-resource
(1) Security
(2) Adventure
(3) Freedom
(4) Exchange
(5) Power
(6) Expansion
(7) Acceptance
(8) Community
(9) Expression
I wish you all the success in your efforts to become a fulfilled human being.
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References:
(1) “Extreme Programming Explained” by “Kent Beck” and “Cynthia Andres”
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow’s_hierarchy_of_needs
(3) http://www.itstime.com/jun97.htm
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