A child gets so happy and excited on seeing a balloon. He tries to blow one up himself. Slowly and steadily, balloon starts blowing up. Child gets more excited. He wants more. He keeps on with his efforts. There comes a time, when the balloon reaches its optimum size. But does the child know that it is in fact the optimum size? Does he have the ability to gauge that? If not, the balloon is going to burst, after all. In vain, isn't it?
Expansion, in a lot of sense, agrees with this story of a balloon. Expansion, generally signifies growth, and reflects positively on any entity. And it is, actually good. But as dear "Makdi-Man" says, "with great power comes great responsibility." How true and universal it is! While going through an expansion, any entity has to keep a check on synergy and to make sure that each and every person involved has covered a common ground. Of course, the onus is significantly on the people to ensure that they work towards this.
Consider a business. At the start-up stage, it is generally a small one, with a team of people numbering in single digits. Keeping the objective common and the decision making inclusive does take place by and large. Needless to say that it is imperative. After a while, when opportunity to expand comes up, it is generally grabbed with both hands. But an eye has to be kept at the changes taking place, and how they affect the company as well as the individuals. It becomes very very essential to ensure that cracks do not seep in.
Consider even an online thread. Last year, I had happened to join one quite late from the date it started. After joining, and giving it a quick scan, it was evident to me that a lot of quality things have been discussed on the same, and hence I thought it was necessary for me to familiarize myself with it. Even if there was an impulse to say something, I did consider that a thought might have been given to it earlier. After dutifully looking for the same, I was satisfied that I controlled the impulse. Today, when I see somebody else in that position-at times blabbering away like everyone over there is like a newbie and actually not responding to one who refrained from taking a dig at him and explaining things nicely-again somehow I relate it to this expansion phenomenon. As and when newer people join an existing thread, it gradually becomes difficult to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Though I understand that such things happen, and happen for good. Some learn, some have fun, some always have intended pun (couldn't stop from rhyming). By the way, at such times, my respect for moderators and seniors on any thread or forum increases tremendously.
Organizing something has always fallen under this category. As the number of heads goes up, so does chaos. I'm sure, I have caused some at times, and faced some at others.
Eventually, I will say that expansion does have quite a few positive notions. But then, there is a way in which it should happen. The original entity, the new entrants and anyone else, need to be patient, calm, and most importantly having an eye at the common objective. Then one can reap fruits of the same.
P.S. Most of above may appear random, incomplete or even non-sense. But it is purely based on my experiences in very recent times, and the write-up is an impulsive one. I'm no theorist or philosopher.
