Friday Reflections

Wrestler and Master (an Ancient Story)

 

"Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without the first, you really want them to be dumb and lazy." - Warren Buffett. 

 

Story Line:  

Long time ago, in a northern part of India, there was one very famous wrestler. He had a long and illustrious career in which he had won every match and defeated many well known wrestlers. But age and years of competitions had taken toll on his body. He planned to retire but not before identifying a young man to carry on his legacy.  

Many candidates showed up. He picked one young man who displayed tremendous ability and high energy. For next several years, the Master taught his student tricks of the trade and years of knowledge that he had acquired through his wrestling experiences. After few years the student had learned many skills and ventured into the real world with the blessings of the Master.

He was well taught and started winning the competitions all over India. A day came when he had beaten every well known wrestler in the land. He felt “I am the Greatest.” But one thing that bothered him was that people still remembered his Master and at times referred to him as “the student of The Great Master.” 

He felt jealous and decided to eradicate his Master’s brand. He challenged his master to face him in the ring and prove to the world that he and only him was “The Greatest.” People in the land were shocked when they heard of this challenge.  

Finally the day of the event arrived. Thousands of people gathered in the arena to watch the match. The whistle blew and the wrestling began. The student was strong and fast and knocked master on the ground in a few minutes. Master got up and the student flipped him again to the ground. The crowd was in shock. The Master let it go on for a while and finally made one move and the student flipped and fell on the ground so hard that his shoulder broke. He could not get up and the match was called off. The crowd cheered and bowed to The Master. 

A few months late, the student had recovered from shoulder injury. Still wondering how he could have lost, he wanted to do Postmortem. He went to see the Master. While he reached there, The Master gave him a hug and instead of reminding him about the event, talked about the old times. As the day ended and the young man (student) was leaving, he asked The Master “How come you did not teach me that trick which knocked me down for good in our match?” 

Replied The Master “The teacher always saves one trick/move for himself in case a day like this arrives.” (where student gets too proud and challenges the teacher.) 

 

Reflection: “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” - Albert Schweitzer

If you work for a man… for heaven’s sake work for him

The following story is from the writings of Elbert Hubbard: An American writer, artist, publisher and philosopher from 19th century.

Story Line:

If you work for a man, in heaven's name work for him.

If he pays you wages that supply you your bread and butter, work for him -- speak well of him, think well of him, stand by him and stand by the institution he represents.

I think if I worked for a man, I would work for him. I would not work for him a part of the time, and the rest of the time work against him. I would give an undivided service or none. If put to the pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.

If you must vilify, condemn and eternally disparage, why, resign your position, and then when you are outside, damn to your heart's content. But I pray you, as long as you are a part of an institution, do not condemn it. Not that you will injure the institution -- not that -- but when you disparage a concern of which you are a part, you disparage yourself.

More than that, you are loosening the tendrils that hold you to the institution, and the first high wind that happens along, you will be uprooted and blown away in the blizzard's track -- and probably you will never know why - - - Get Out or Get in Line

 

Reflection: http://fridayreflections.typepad.com/weblog/2007/11/an-ounce-of-loy.html

Next Week: We call our forefathers fools so wise we grow, Our wiser sons would call us so.

The Humorous Mr. Lincoln on 200th anniversary

Points to Ponder: From Abraham Lincoln

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally"

Story Line: America is celebrating 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the president who was known for his humorous quotes and jokes. Here are a few to enjoy and ponder as we remember him.

1. Lincoln was not a good looking man and when accused by an opponent of being two faced, Lincoln replied "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?"

2. Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.

3. He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas better than any man I ever met.

4. There was a boy who killed his parents, and during court proceedings pleaded for mercy on the grounds that he was an orphan.

5. Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

Let the Elephant Run

Assistant Secretary of War Charles A. Dana had learned that a man named Jacob Thompson, who had been causing the government many problems, was about to escape to Liverpool. Dana approached Lincoln with the news. Lincoln asked Dana what Secretary of War Edwin Stanton thought about it. Dana answered, “He thinks we should arrest him.”

Lincoln replied, ”I disagree. If you have an elephant on your hands that wants to run away, you better let him run."

Reflection:  Parting thought from Mr. President's quote:  Whatever you are, be a good one.

An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation

“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.” - Mahatma Gandhi

 

Story Line:

The Emperor Has No Clothes, by US Senator Robert Byrd - Senate Floor Remarks October 17, 2003 (with analogy to some work situations in parentheses)

“In 1837, Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, wrote a wonderful fairy tale which he titled 'The Emperor's New Clothes'.  It may be the very first example of the power of political correctness.  It is the story of the Ruler (the boss) of a distant land (big organization) who was so enamored of his appearance and his clothing that he had a different suit (new program) for every hour of the day.

One day two rogues arrived in town, claiming to be gifted weavers (transformation experts).  They convinced the Emperor that they could weave the most wonderful cloth (best program in the world), which had a magical property.  The clothes were only visible to those who were completely pure in heart and spirit (only open minded employees).

The Emperor was impressed and ordered the weavers to begin work immediately.  The rogues, who had a deep understanding of human nature, began to feign work on empty looms. 

Minister (manager) after minister (manager) went to view the new clothes and all came back exhorting the beauty of the cloth on the looms even though none of them could see a thing.

Finally a grand procession (big conference) was planned for the Emperor to display his new finery.  The Emperor went to view his clothes and was shocked to see absolutely nothing, but he pretended to admire the fabulous cloth, inspect the clothes with awe, and, after disrobing, go through the motions of carefully putting on a suit of the new garments.

Under a royal canopy the Emperor appeared to the admiring throng of his people - all of whom cheered and clapped because they all knew the rogue weavers' tale and did not want to be seen as less than pure of heart (they all knew to follow the party line and did not want to be classified as closed minded nor forward looking).

But, the bubble burst when an innocent child (honest employee) loudly exclaimed, for the whole kingdom to hear, that the Emperor had nothing on at all.  He had no clothes (the program of the month was a hoax).

That tale seems to me very like the way this nation was led to war.” (organizations and employees are led into unnecessary and nonproductive activities)
 

Reflection: After above text, Senator Byrd went to describe many examples from the current wars; a subject that is off limits for Friday Reflections. But as the rest of the original story goes: The Emperor cringes, suspecting the child’s (employee’s) assertion is true, but still holds himself up proudly and continues the procession.