The Bridge on the River Choluteca

The Anecdote

Let’s start by sharing the anecdote. It is the story of a 484 mt long bridge built on the river Choluteca in Honduras, in Central America. The local authorities wanted to build a bridge that would stand all the big storms and hurricanes, a common phenomenon in those parts of the world. A contract was given to a Japanese construction company, which true to its word, built a strong bridge that can withstand extreme weather conditions. The bridge was opened for public use in 1998.

A few months later, the land was hit by hurricane Mitch. It resulted in 75 inches of rain within the short span of four days, the same as what the area normally receives over six months. River Choluteca transcended its boundaries, inflicting heavy damages on life and property. Everything around the bridge collapsed like a bunch of matchsticks amidst heavy rains and winds. However, the bridge itself stood long and strong, challenging the forces of nature.

When the hurricane left, leaving behind the rubble of devastation, it also altered the landscape around the bridge. There was no sign left of the roads on its either sides, which were earlier connecting it to other city points. The river itself had changed its course, and now it was flowing beside the bridge and not under it. Thus, the structure that was once ‘the bridge on the river Choluteca’, was now just a standalone structure over nothing. It had barren sandy land below and an open blue sky above. It started from nothing and ended in nothing. An architectural marvel rendered useless by a sudden change in its surroundings.

The Bridge & Sahil

When Sahil first came across the picture of the bridge on the river Choluteca, it had a numbing effect on him, without even knowing the story behind. The picture was gloomy and ironic, to say the least. Yet a part of him wanted to know more. To know how this problem was solved. To think of ways in which it could be corrected. His approach has always been solution-oriented. Now too the picture was calling him to prove that things can turn around even after reaching this point. Maybe because he understood what it meant to be in this position.

The recent pandemic has had a similar impact on life and business. With millions losing their lives, half the world under lockdown, confined to the safety of their houses, governments restricting movements in public places, repercussions to economy and business were inevitable. The company Sahil was employed with, was one amongst the severely affected. Within a single quarter revenue and earnings came crashing down. As a desperate measure to save the company from going bankrupt, management decided to cut down on all resources, including manpower. Much to his dismay, Sahil was also on the exit list. Eliminating a senior VP, with a hefty pay-package, was to have a significant impact on the costs.

At Sahil’s end, the situation demanded some desperate measures. With his family entirely dependent on his earnings, being unemployed was not a state he wanted to be in. While scouting for new opportunities, he soon realized his options were limited. With the entire economy going through a major downturn, the situation was quite grim across. Chances of any organization hiring an expensive resource at this time were at best bleak, at worst none. Sahil’s income was set to deplete, but his expenses were still loaded with mortgages, school fees, and household running expenses.

There were indeed some uncanny similarities between Sahil’s situation and those of the bridge. At least in the terms of the impact and suddenness of the change. When Sahil first saw that picture, his mind started drawing parallels. Yet he decided not to complain about how challenging or demotivating this predicament was. He was seeking ways to reach a new equilibrium. He only and only wanted to repurpose or reinvent the bridge and in the process his own life. A task which by no means is a cakewalk. Sahil was fully cognizant of how gradual and painful the process of transformation is.

Taking the bridge on river Choluteca as a leading example, Sahil decided to reconstruct his life. He started noting down his options and choices.

Reconnect the Dots

Reconnecting the dots between the bridge, the river, the land, and the city is the key to finding its new use. The basic needs of civilizations remain the same before and after the storm. The river still needs to be crossed, the land needs fertility and stability, and the city needs to run. And thus, quite obviously the bridge will find its purpose around fulfilling these same needs.

For Sahil also, this was an opportunity to pause and think through. He acquired an engineering degree to give himself a head-start in his career. He then grabbed the best job opportunity available, which was to fund his higher education. After completing his post-graduation in business administration from the country’s premier institute, he started pursuing a fast-paced career. The course of life from then on was decided by the growth opportunities available – be it in changing cities or employers – it was always for a better bargain than the previous one.

When this race of madness came to a halting stop, Sahil was forced to redefine his priorities. There were no lucrative opportunities up for grab. He still had to fend for his needs. After having climbed the corporate ladder a long way, even a horizontal movement would have sufficed, but the possibility seemed dismal. Thus, he had to find something which will sustain his lifestyle, can be achieved with his current capabilities and the world has a requirement for.

Invest in Expansion

Building new from what already exists. For Choluteca, it could mean extending the bridge furthermore. Knowledge and experience gained from previous construction will make the extension a comparatively faster and cheaper proposition. In some other cases, it might make sense to try and change the course of the river.  Or in some situations possibly both the bridge and river shift to meet at a center point. Of course here river and bridge are symbolic of what has changed and what needs to change.

Sahil realized that his river too was changing course and very soon there won't be much water left under his feet. He thrived in the physical world built of brick and mortar. Post pandemic, the internet web was thickening around his world. Transactions that were previously closed with a hand-shake, are now getting closed at the click of a button. For Sahil, this meant a complete re-orientation of his working style and work practices.

With current engagement going, he had the option of investing this time in strengthening his candidature for the next available opportunity. He could either upskill or dabble with something new. He could also expand the geographical and segment boundaries of his search, something he resisted in the past. He realized that presently job opportunities won’t come his way. He needs to move in their direction.

Think Out of the Box

Sometimes the solution is outside the problem. It’s possible that the costs of making the bridge a part of the river’s ecosystem are too high. Then thinking of a completely new use of the bridge might give better results. For example, the bridge and its surroundings can be developed into a tourist spot. Developing the fertile river-bed land into a green-zone or improving carbon footprints of the area are just some of the benefits associated with it. It can also be an educational monument, inspiring the students of engineering and philosophy alike.

If he decides to move out of the box, options surely expand for Sahil. His wife had turned a home-baker post her maternity career break. She made excellent theme-cakes but could not expand her passion or her label beyond her kitchen. If Sahil were to support her, setting up their own café or baking line was a lucrative option. Leveraging his experience in product and vendor management, he could help her set-up a successful commercial venture.

Sahil could also, explore the possibilities of teaching grad students. Even in the office, he had always enjoyed training employees, especially on leadership skills. He could now share the same knowledge and experience with students preparing for their corporate careers. In simple words, if one door closed, Sahil could open multiple windows to reach the world which was once his.

The Conclusion

In essence, the bridge on the river Choluteca represents a person who stands strong in face of a storm, to emerge unscathed. However, the world around him ceases to exist as he knows it, forcing him to find new meanings, a new purpose for his life. What distinguishes it from a normal process of ‘reinvention’ is the timing of the change. Here change is rapid and rampant, often devastating too. The reinvention, on the other hand, is a gradual and painful process of discovery and adaptation.  

For Sahil too, making a choice itself is not easy. His life prior to the job loss was secure, well established, and fulfilling. Now life had changed its course and he now needed to carve out a new space for himself.

The conclusion is simple to state but much difficult to implement. It is always easy to build something from the start. When we try to recreate an existing structure, some breakages, and some wastages are both necessary and unavoidable. In situations like these, reinventing the wheel, while both gradual and painful, is imperative. What was current before the storm becomes redundant after it. Reinvention is the only possibility to avoid stagnation and degeneration.