Ex-IPS officer recalls incident that left him ‘frozen’. His post has a strong message

Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS

A former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer shared a personal anecdote from his early days in service that left him utterly “frozen”. The story, which has gone viral, resonated deeply with professionals navigating the challenges of new roles.

Rajan Singh, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, and the founder of HabitStrong, an online learning platform, recalled his first test as an IPS officer in Kerala’s Palakkad town in a now-viral post on LinkedIn.

“In Kerala’s Palakkad town, when I stood before a slogan-shouting crowd for the first time as an Indian Police Service officer, I froze, completely clueless about what to do,” he wrote in his post.

However, he didn’t remain clueless for long. Fast-forward a few years, and even handling a 5,000-strong violent crowd was just another day on the job,” he shared as he explained how experience transforms even the most daunting tasks.

The lessons didn’t stop there. Speaking of his stint at McKinsey, Rajan confessed, “In my first project, I was practically useless. But a few projects later, I was churning out PowerPoint slides like a pro (even if their value was occasionally questionable)”.

Through his post, Rajan emphasised on a powerful truth: every new beginning comes with its share of struggles. “Those who avoid mistakes and screw-ups at all costs do nothing. In the halls of success, embarrassment, and failure are the price of admission,” he concluded.

Take a look at the post here:

Social media users found Rajan’s honesty refreshing and relatable. “The discomfort of starting is part of the process. Nobody begins as an expert. Every pro moment hides a series of embarrassing missteps,” a user said.

Another user added, “Everyone has to learn. Some people hide their discomfort well, but the learning curve is universal. It’s all about staying open to growth.”

“What we don’t hear enough on social media is, ‘This was a learning experience. I didn’t succeed, but I learnt.’ It’s posts like these that should be amplified,” one of the users said.

See the comments here:

Rajan Singh’s post triggered conversations about embracing vulnerability and preserving it through initial setbacks — a reminder that success is earned through resilience and learning.

SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA