Sunil Gavaskar, Madhuri Mishra and lessons in influence 

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“Gavaskar’s feat signalled a change in mindset for Indian cricketers. The belief that his achievement gave the team showed up in the sport and how India battled with the opposition, often in the lion’s den. Given the pittance that sportspersons were paid then, his feats catapulted him into India’s first sports superstar, opening up opportunities for endorsements,” said an article. 

Before we move ahead, here is a quick note on the immunisation programme: smallpox was eradicated in 1977 and the first version of the national immunisation programme was launched in 1978 as Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) with the introduction of BCG, OPV, DPT and typhoid-paratyphoid vaccines. The EPI target was at least 80 percent coverage in infancy. The vaccination was offered through major hospitals and largely restricted to urban areas and thus understandably, the coverage remained low. EPI was rechristened and launched as Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)  with some major changes on November 19, 1985. UIP’s aim was not only to increase production and distribution capacity but also to rapidly increase immunisation coverage and reduce mortality. It meant phased implementation—all districts to be covered, including a district-wise system for monitoring and evaluation. 

In an interview, she said, “The first few years were very tough. People didn't want to get immunised.” Myths and rumours like vaccines can cause infertility or will make them sick were her battles. “But I’d keep walking, stopping at villages and vaccinating children. It had to be done. At times, people would misbehave. At others, they wouldn't let me enter. I would keep going back, sometimes with others who had vaccinated their children until I could convince them,” Mishra said. She barely took a day off. Her ward managers said wherever she went, there was a surge in mass immunisation. Such was her influence. 

a) Resolve: It is the determination to work that carries one forward. No paraphernalia, no conveniences yet perseverance made Mishra walk and work every day.

b) Purpose: No matter how many times she had to repeat herself, the nurse kept going back to the families that declined her initially. Her purpose was not to keep a count of how many homes she covered but not to leave anyone uncovered. 

c) Consistency: If you have worked for 30 years without taking a break, without any excuse with the same enthusiasm as you did on Day One, you would have influenced many co-workers in your journey. Consistency in performance, in showing up everyday becomes the reason for success. 

(Vishakha Singh, author of a forward-thinking course SHIFT, is a business strategist & a design thinking practitioner. She writes at www.habitsforthinking.in, offering insights into the ever-changing business environment.)