Five corporate survival lessons which can be learnt from an ancient Tibetan folk-tale
Nestled deep in the Himalayas was a small but prosperous mountain kingdom ruled over by a wise monarch. The ruler was a skilled administrator who devoted all of his energy towards the betterment of his Kingdom. He always put the interests of his subjects on topmost priority and left no stone un-turned to ensure that the citizens were happy. Due to his untiring efforts, peace and prosperity reigned supreme in all corners of the kingdom.
Now over the passage of time the monarch grew old and his health started deteriorating. He soon fell ill, and on one fateful day passed away in his sleep. The people were devastated. The council of ministers hastily convened and decided to crown the eldest son of their departed ruler as their new King in accordance with the existing tradition. The people were overjoyed. They expected their new ruler to be equal, if not better in capability compared to his father.
But they were to be sorely disappointed.
The new King was nothing like his predecessor. The previous ruler had devoted his full energy and attention towards the administration of his Kingdom, but in the process neglected to spend time with his family. So occupied was he in administrative and political matters, that he never even gave a thought about grooming his successor. His son, devoid of fatherly love and affection, grew up in the company of sycophants and became pampered, spoiled, vain, selfish and power-hungry. As soon as he ascended the throne, he passed an order decreeing his rule as absolute. He dismissed the old council of ministers and employed his sycophantic friends as his aides. He paid scant attention to administrative matters and squandered the resources of his Kingdom in reckless debauchery and extravagance.
Within a short span of time, all the efforts and the hard work done by the previous ruler were undone. What had once been a proud and prosperous Kingdom now found itself sinking into a quagmire of poverty, decadence, crime and corruption. The brewing discontentment of the people manifested themselves into protests and later on into violent rebellions. But these were quelled quickly and cruelly by the King’s army.
Several years passed by as the people continued to suffer in silence. One year, the winter happened to be more extreme than usual and showed no signs of abating. The rivers and lakes had frozen while the snow piled on mercilessly. Agriculture of any form was made virtually impossible. Hunting was also difficult as most of the animals had already been hunted or disappeared into the mountains. The essential supplies of food and fuel, which had been so carefully accumulated in the summer months were fast dwindling. If this weather continued, the supplies would run out and the people would sooner or later starve or freeze to death.
And for once, the King was concerned too. Not for his people, but for himself. He convened a meeting of his sycophantic ministers to sort out a solution. When all had gathered, he addressed them thus:
‘Friends,’ he said solemnly. ‘You all know why we have gathered here. A grave crisis has befallen our kingdom. The winter continues to rage without mercy. It is not clear how long it will continue. The great lake and all our rivers have frozen. I have been informed that our stocks of food, fodder and fuel are fast dwindling. If this continues, we will all freeze or starve to death. We must think of a solution.’
‘To continue to stay here is tantamount to committing suicide. We must migrate to a more hospitable place. It is the only solution.’ said one minister.
‘But where shall we go?’ queried another.
One minister replied ‘I know of a fertile region due south of here. The weather over there is conducive all year. It has plenty of water and food sources. My father has spoken about it to me sometimes.’
‘Whereabouts is this place your father speaks of?’ asked the King.
‘Your majesty, it is due south of here. We have to cross the great lake and go further down, beyond the mountains.’ replied the minister.
‘Beyond the great lake and the mountains?’, exclaimed the King. ‘But that would be too far! The journey could take weeks, probably longer.’
‘Yes your majesty. But given the circumstances, we have no choice. Unless someone here can think of any other place where we can migrate to.’ said the minister.
The king contemplated for a while. Finally, he sighed deeply and said ‘So be it. Let us make preparations to migrate to this new region.’
‘If I might make a suggestion, your majesty,’ said one minister. ‘The path to this new destination we speak of is very tough. It will be filled with dangers and the weather will be unforgiving. Even the toughest soul among us will find it challenging. And if that be the case, then what of the old, infirm and physically challenged people? They will not be able to survive the rigours of the trip. They will only be a hindrance to our progress. I propose we leave them behind.’
‘I agree.’ said another minister. ‘They will only serve an extra burden, something we can do without.’
And the decision was made. The King, without batting an eyelid, issued a Royal decree. Messengers were sent to all parts of the Kingdom to inform the people of the decision, and the cruel caveat that came along with it.
The people were shocked on hearing the announcement! Leaving their homes was tough enough. How on earth could they leave just behind their old folk? Disobeying the King’s order was futile. In one of the villages was a young shepherd boy named Dorje. Dorje had an old grandfather named Sangye. Dorje’s parents had died at a young age and Sangye had brought him up like his own son. To Dorje, his grandfather was his world; so deep was their attachment. Therefore, when he heard the King’s announcement, he was shocked beyond belief!
How could the King expect people to leave behind their loved ones? His grandpa had nurtured him, taken care of him and brought him up like his own son since his parents died at an early age. And now, when it was Dorje’s turn to take care of his ailing grandfather, how could he just leave him behind to his own fate? How could the King be so cruel?
With a heavy heart, Dorje reached his small cottage and between tears, told his grandpa of the King’s announcement. Sangye was also shocked on hearing this. But he soon regained his composure and consoled the Boy.
‘The King is right.’ said Sangye. ‘I am now old and merely a shadow of my former self. Look at me! Do you think I would be able to withstand the rigours of the journey? I would only be a burden for you. I have lived my whole life and practically have one foot in the grave. But you, on the other hand, are young. You have your whole life ahead of you. Leave me be, my boy. Leave me to my fate.’
‘How can I just leave you behind grandpa?’ Dorje argued between tears. ‘You are all that I have in this world. You took care of me when I was young. Now, the time has come for me to look after you. How can I just leave you behind? If I leave you, I will never be able to live with myself.’
Sangye tried his level best to convince his grandson. He scolded him and berated him, hoping that his harsh words would somehow make Dorje change his mind.
Bur Dorje would have none of it. He was adamant. Either they both would go, or neither would. Sangye finally agreed, albeit reluctantly.
‘All right Dorje, you win.,’ Sangye said. ‘But tell me one thing, how do you plan to smuggle me across all the way without the king’s men noticing? Do you know what will happen if we get caught?’
‘I haven’t thought about that.’ replied Dorje, his face suddenly turning glum.
Sangye chuckled and said ‘I thought so. Well, the King is right on one point. The journey to this new valley is going to be no picnic. It is long, tough and filled with dangers. The weather will also not be forgiving. It will be a tough proposition for even the most able bodied person. But luckily for you, I know the route. I have traversed that path before. I am aware of the dangers that lie en-route. If you are well prepared, you will be able to tackle them.’
‘When did you travel on that path earlier, grandpa?’ Dorje asked curiously.
‘It was a long, long time ago, during the reign of the current King’s grandfather. You were not even born then. Once, we faced a long and cold winter similar to the one we’re facing now. And just when things were starting to look bleak, the winter abated and things returned to normal again. But the King learnt his lesson well. He sent out people to explore beyond the borders of his Kingdom, to seek other regions where people would find food and shelter should such an event occur again. I was one of the explorers too. And anyhow, it’s always a good strategy to get to know what lies beyond your borders.’ Sangye replied.
Sangye and Dorje then started preparing for the perilous journey.
And one fine day, the time to begin the journey had arrived. The King’s soldiers appeared in Dorje’s village and started ushering all the young folk. Tearful scenes played out as many bade emotional goodbyes to their loved ones. Some people pleaded to take along their aged folk but the King’s men would have none of it. Dorje and Sangye had prepared well in advance for this day. Dorje, with the help of his grandpa stitched together a bag of tough animal skin in which he would carry his grandfather undetected. The bag was strong enough to bear his grandpa’s weight and long enough to conceal him; with of course some holes carved in for air supply.
When the soldiers came knocking at the door, they were ready. Dorje had filled up his bag with a lot of items making it look huge and swollen in size. The soldiers were a bit surprised, seeing the enormity of the bag. But since it was going to be a long journey, they assumed he was going to need all the stuff he was able to carry. Then both grandfather and grandson put up a grand show, for the benefit of the watching guards.
Sangye appeared to be begging and pleading with Dorje not to leave him behind. But Dorje paid no heed. He shouted back at the old man and told him to get inside and stop bothering him. It was all an act of course. But it was good enough to convince the guards. And then Dorje made a show of walking away while Sangye forlornly walked back inside the house. After walking some distance, he pretended to have forgotten something and then went back into his house to get it. Once he got inside, he quickly dumped all the stuff he had packed in the bag. Then Sangye got inside the bag and Dorje carried it out. And no one noticed a thing.
And so Dorje set out on the long and perilous journey to the new destination, with Sangye in tow.
The journey was every bit as tough as it was supposed to have been. Harsh winds, snowstorms and extreme climate made life difficult for the travellers. Food was scarce. The path was strewn with rocks and sharp stones making every step a torture. If that wasn’t enough, every now and then there were attacks by wild beasts which took their toll on the group.
The people grunted and complained, but the cruel King’s guards prodded them along and did not allow them a single moment of rest. Many people dropped dead in their tracks due to sheer exhaustion, but the guards took no notice and marched on. Poor Dorje, who probably was carrying the heaviest load of all uttered not a single word of protest. He walked along slowly and steadily, steeling his mind and body to be unaffected by the sufferings of those around him. Sangye had anticipated the extreme weather and the gruelling path that lay en-route. So before the journey, he had given Dorje a special elixir made up of special herbs. The elixir would keep Dorje warm, despite the cold weather. So, Dorje was able to survive the extreme weather thanks to the foresight of his grandfather.
During the course of the journey, it so happened that the people came across a frozen lake which they had to cross. As they were crossing, the King’s young son who happened to be fiddling with his small toy knife stepped on a patch of thin ice which cracked under impact. With a scream, the boy fell in the icy water. The guards managed to rescue the young prince, while the toy knife sank to the bottom.
The King was happy that his son was saved. But the boy who was very much pampered, arrogant and spoiled like his father, was greatly upset over the loss of his knife. He demanded that the knife be brought back at all costs. The King, eager to placate his son, ordered his guards to dive under the ice and bring back the knife. His ministers tried to talk him out of this foolish demand, but the King would have none of it. The knife was a family heirloom, he said and therefore had to be retrieved at any cost.
Many strong men were forced into this task, and none returned alive. Some were killed by shock and hypothermia on contact with the icy cold water, while others simply could not make it all the way to the bottom and drowned. But the cruel King paid no heed and kept on forcing more men to do this task, with the same tragic results. Dorje knew it would be his turn soon. Refusal to carry out the King’s order would invite instant execution. But accepting the task was tantamount to suicide. What hope did he have of success in a task in which many able bodied men had failed? There seemed to be no way out. But more than his own life, he was concerned about his grandfather’s fate should any ill befall him. He told Sangye about the current predicament.
Sangye listened gravely. When Dorje had finished, Sangye said “Alas! This foolish King will sacrifice more and more innocent lives for the sake of his ego. We must act before it’s too late. Dorje, go ahead and volunteer to retrieve the dagger. But before that, do exactly as I say.”
“Take this large and heavy magnet I have brought along”, Sangye continued. “Tie it to a long rope and insert the rope in the water. Keep submerging the rope till it reaches the bottom. The magnet will act as a weight to guide the rope to the bottom. Keep the rope submerged for some minutes and bring it up. The knife blade should get attracted to the magnet and attach itself to it. Try this a couple of times till you succeed.”
“But what if the surface is uneven? What if the blade is concealed beneath some dirt and the magnet fails to detect it? Or what if there is an underwater current which has caused the knife to sink farther from the direct bottom?” Dorje asked.
Sangye replied “I know the waters of this lake very well. What you speak of should not mostly occur. But in the event it does, I have another plan. Submerge the rope as mentioned anyways. Tie the dry end of the rope to some place and make it rigid and taut. Take along this Yak skin pouch and this small leather pipe I prepared specially for you. Make a small perforation near any corner of the pouch and insert the leather pipe into it. Cover the outer end of the pipe and make sure that the pipe and the pouch both stay airtight. This bag will be your air reservoir should you run out of air. When you need to breathe underwater, break the outer seal of the pipe and suck in the air inside. Take care to not let water inside the pipe. Use it sparingly, only when you need it.”
“When you reach the bottom” Sangye continued, “Don’t waste time searching for the blade as it’ll be very dark. Use the magnet at the end of the rope to attract the Knife. When you finally have the knife, take it and get back ashore.”
Dorje then approached the King and volunteered to dive. The King was surprised to see someone come up and volunteer for this deadly task, when all other people were being coerced into it. He readily accepted. Dorje then did exactly like his grandfather told him to. And thankfully, Dorje did not have to dive into the biting cold water as he was able to retrieve the knife with the magnet alone.
The King was overjoyed. He rewarded Dorje with a bag of gold coins, much to the jealousy of the ministers. And once again, Dorje saved the day for himself and hundreds of his fellow people; thanks to his grandfathers’ foresightedness.
And they marched on.
In the course of the journey, they came across many such obstacles. But each time, Sangye’s experience and foresight came to the rescue. Dorje was able to extricate himself and his people time and again, much to the King’s delight. The ministers grew more and more jealous day by day with Dorje’s growing popularity with the King. They resented the fact that a young and ripe lad like Dorje was able to find solutions to all the tricky problems where they had all miserably failed.
One of the ministers had his men spy on Dorje and soon the secret was revealed. The jealous minister then laid a trap and caught Dorje red-handed along with his grandfather. He promptly had them both arrested and presented them in front of the King. In harsh words, he revealed the details of Dorje’s treachery, He demanded that both Dorje and Sangye be executed immediately for disobeying the King’s orders.
Dorje was distraught. Weeping, he pleaded to the King to punish him as he liked but begged him to spare his grandpa. He then revealed how his grandfather’s advice had extricated them from many perilous situations throughout the journey. Sangye on his part, too pleaded to the King to spare Dorje.
Hearing them, the King had a sudden change of heart. He was touched seeing the love and affection grandfather and grandson had for each other. He also realised that Dorje was telling the truth. Sangye’s experience had saved them. It was doubtful if they would have gotten so far otherwise. He then realised the error of his ways. He realised what a grave mistake it had been to leave behind all the aged folk and ignore their experience. He also knew that he was setting a bad example to his own son. If he himself could not show respect to old people and their sentiments, how could he expect his own son to show respect to him during his old age?
He then made arrangements to mend his ways. He not only spared Sangye’s life, but even rewarded Dorje handsomely as well. He ordered his people to return to the village. Using Sangye’s advice and experience, they were all able to make it back safely. The long winter finally ended to make way for spring. Flowers blossomed and the rivers and lakes starting flowing once more. The King mended his ways and became the ruler the people wanted him to be.
And once again, the Kingdom marched on the road to peace, prosperity and happiness.
There are several important lessons this old Tibetan folktale teaches us from a corporate context:
You are expendable
No matter your age, privilege or position you are expendable. In a corporate setup, your survival and existence depends upon how useful the company finds you to be and how beneficial you prove to be to them. The private corporate scenario is a volatile one and things can change drastically in a short span of time.
The moment things go south or you are determined to be a liability or you don’t fit into the grand scheme of things, you will be disposed of regardless of your loyalty, age or position, as was the case with all the old persons of the Kingdom.
There is no substitute for experience
No matter your seniority and the clout you wield in the organisation, it will ultimately be your knowledge, skills and experience which will keep you and your company afloat. It will also help you earn the respect of your superiors, peers and juniors alike.
As illustrated in the story, it was Sangye’s experience and foresight which helped Dorje triumph over the harsh journey conditions. Who knows what fate might have befallen Dorje and the others had it not been for his grandpa’s timely advice?
Knowledge and experience carry great value in the long run.
Make time for your family and personal life
Maintaining a work-life balance is crucial for maintaining emotional and mental health and the key to a successful and fulfilling career. Do not make work the only purpose of life. Spend quality time with your loved ones as well. As illustrated in the story, the King though, dedicated to the needs of the Kingdom, did not find time to spend with his own family. The result was his son falling into bad company and becoming weak and evil minded, instead of a good human being.
In this dog-eat-dog and cut-throat world, your family and your loved ones will be your only source of support when the chips are down. Therefore, place equal importance on spending time with your family as much as you do on work.
Groom a worthy successor for your empire
As illustrated in the story, the King devoted all his energy into the administration of the Kingdom and couldn’t spare the time to groom his son to become a worthy successor. As a result, the Kingdom and its people had to pay a heavy price. Therefore, every leader should devote a considerable amount of time and energy to groom an heir. A kingdom without a worthy heir is a shortcut to doom.
And on another note, dynastic credentials do not necessarily make people worthy successors, as was seen in the case of the good King’s son. Therefore, each organisation should carve out a process to groom competent leaders based on talent, experience, hard work and skills rather than choose people from privileged backgrounds.
Emotional bonding triumphs over professional and monetary relationships
Emotional bonding will always triumph over professional relationships in the long run. Studies show the employees are the most productive when they’re happy at the workplace. And employees will be happy only when they feel that their presence is valued in the team and they get along well with other team members.
Even a team with the most skilled people will fall flat if there ultimately happens to be no emotional bonding and trust between them. They’d be like the perfect fitting parts in the machine sans the lubricating oil.
It was the strong emotional bond between Dorje and Sangye which prompted the former to take the risk of disobeying the King’s orders and take the old man along with him in the perilous journey, knowing very well the hardship of the task and the danger associated with it.
Therefore, as in your personal life, look to connect emotional relationships and personal bonding with your colleagues and associates. It will be beneficial to you in the long run.
