A Man and his Tool
*Disclaimer: The Title of this post should be read as “A person and his/her tools”. However “A Man and his Tool” is a better click-bait.;)
Seriously though, I have used the words”Man”, “Mankind”, “he” etc. just for brevity. The context is applicable to any human being who finds this post useful.
Who are you calling a Tool?
In the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 11, Verse 33, Lord Krishna advises Arjuna:

तस्मात्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून्भुङ् क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् |
मयैवैते निहता: पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् || 33||Therefore, arise and attain honor!
Conquer your foes and enjoy prosperous rulership.
These warriors stand already slain by me,
and you will only be an instrument of my work, O expert archer.
What Lord Krishna meant is that Arjuna should use his skills and abilities without attachment to results or to his emotions. Because he is not the doer, he is only the instrument.
The word “Instrument” can be interchanged with a simpler word — “Tool”. So Essentially Lord Krishna advised all those who wished to make a real difference to “Become a Tool”.
The Significance of a Tool
Since time immemorial, human beings have differentiated themselves from other species in many ways. But each of these examples of humans exceeding other creatures falls under the umbrella of One Super Reason — “Getting Results”.
And the greatest ally we had in this endeavor was not our best friend, the dog, but our ability to create and apply tools.
From our primitive ancestors who used rocks and spears, to today’s modern men who feed their families using a food ordering app on their smartphones, we have definitely come a long way. Our dependence in both cases is on the best tools at our disposal to obtain the first of life’s necessities: Food.
The story is no different when it comes to procuring and maintaining other necessities like Clothing and Shelter. In each case is it ancient or modern tools which allowed mankind to exceed their limitations.
Depending on our trade, we may imagine a tool as a hammer or a screwdriver or a drilling machine. On the other hand, we may also imagine it as a computer or a smartphone. Those of us who work at higher places may even imagine a tool to be something non-physical, like a continuous improvement methodology or strategy for the department or company we may be leading.
But in the end, it is ‘our’ special tool that we are talking about.
Choose your tools well.
“Necessity is the Mother of Invention”.
Primitive cavemen invented most of their tools for few purposes, namely
- Food,
- Clothing,
- Shelter
- and Safety.
As mankind advanced, not only did we need tools which were better than those the previous generation used for the same purpose (the pattern continues each year when Apple releases a new generation of iPhones.), but we also needed tools which were required in new and more advanced fields. Fields like Communication, Transportation and Science and Maths.
Today we have relatively new subjects like Management, Technology, Fitness, and Behavioral Sciences to name a few, which have spawned the need for new tools. Ancient practices like meditation, yoga, and spirituality have been repackaged as modern tools for problems like excessive stress, health issues, and interpersonal relationship problems. The consumerism in society along with marketers working over-time often results in unnecessary purchases which we think are tools, except that we will never use them. Hence it is wise to identify the right tools for home, work and life in general.
Finding your right tool.
“You won’t know if something is good or not until you try it”
-every salesperson/drug-dealer you meet.
Unlike computers, life does not follow a fixed algorithm and is different for everyone. Some choices may work better than others for most people, but it is never possible to choose the best choice for everyone. Whether you are looking for a new fitness fad or a new software tool for your business or even contemplating a step like embarking on or disembarking from a relationship, a few strategies/tips listed below may help in making a decision to use a tool and to reach your goals in a holistic way.
- Know what you want: The first step is to define exactly what you want. For example, are you looking to lose weight or build muscle? Or are you dealing with other demons in your life and just need more friends? If it is to lose weight — Focus on your diet and do cardio. If it is to build muscle, hit the weights. If it is to socialize, try Zumba or Yoga, depending on the type of friends you are looking for. Unless you know what your goal is you may end up with a sub-optimal tool.
- Study the Costs and Benefits: When implementing a new tool, it is important to understand the pros and cons, especially highlighting the risks and rewards. What are you willing to lose to gain what you want. Many tools which are more likely to give you what you want will have costs. But those costs may pale in front of the price you pay for status quo. So when you are clear what you stand to gain and what you may lose, and it feels right, then go for it.
- Start slowly and keep the progress incremental: Often lofty goals shift focus away from the essential process. When applying a new tool, start with the basic step ( E.g. “Hello World” in case you are trying to use a new programming language) and then move step by step to advanced algorithms and end-to-end workflows.
- Keep the Tool accessible: If using your new tool is a challenge, the probability of success diminishes. Joining a yoga class? Ensure that reaching the yoga class is always on your way and does not disturb the rest of your day/life. Trying out a new software to improve your work? Make sure the desktop shortcut to launch the program is present and efficient, making your use of the application and consequently your processes more efficient.
- Maintain a growth mindset: When trying to do anything new or difficult, setbacks and challenges will always show up. Always look at these as a learning opportunity. Even if the result derails you from your goal, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Try again with the new knowledge you have gained. If what you have learned is that the tool or path you chose does not work, be humble and honest and look for another approach.
- Be open to sharing what you have learned and helping others: No great revolution ever happens under the covers. Only when it is shared with others does it ever become meaningful. Can you imagine what would have happened if the Buddha would have remained a reclusive hermit and focussed only on his own spirituality after he attained enlightenment? Absolutely Nothing! But Gautam Buddha stepped out and taught many, giving us not only one of the worlds greatest and most profound religion but also a truly philosophical way of life.
- Be humble: Humility is nothing but the awareness that you will never be the center of any universe forever. A successful application of any tool towards achieving your goal, may not replicate tomorrow when the sands of time have shifted. What gives you peace of mind today, maybe a thorn in your side the next day. What is your masterpiece now, may become an embarrassment for you when the world changes. Does this mean that any ambition to succeed is futile? No. Success and Ambitions are never futile. They are nothing but tools, which we use to give meaning to our life. Treat them as tools to use in life and nothing more. As Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita, “निमित्तमात्रं भव — Be an Instrument.” Don’t think that you are the doer or the achiever. Because you are not. What you are is simply a tool towards what is to be done or achieved.