I recently bought a book on ‘Aesops Fables’ to read to my kiddo at night. He is big time bedtime story fan. In seven years of his amazing companionship I must have told some 1,000 odd original stories that I make up on the fly so that he could sleep fast. A few months back, I started amping my story armor with outside help from books J and this ‘Aesop’ book was one such buy. Long story short- amazing book with some amazing lessons that grown-ups can heed just as much. Here is one that I read to my son last night and ended up reading to myself more… you’ll know why when you read it too. So here it goes:
A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.
“That’s for me, as I am a Fox,” said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree.
“Good day, Mistress Crow,” he cried. “How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.”
The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox.
“That will do,” said he. “That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: “Do not trust flatterers.”
Enough said.
A friend recently recommended reading the book “This Idea Must Die: Scientific theories that are blocking progress” which brings together 175 of the world’s most brilliant minds to tackle the question: What scientific idea has become a relic blocking human progress? I am yet to read the book instituted by Edge.org, but am captivated by the bold intent of the compilation as I’ve always believed that one of the most important signs of a living society, or for that matter, a group or a company or business is its ability to fairly-and-squarely question/asses even its most sacred “truths”.
Warren Buffett has a sixth sense for a person’s character (he’s closed deals in just five minutes with a handshake), so when he talks about his non-negotiables in potential hires, its wise to listen & heed:
I was at an FT125 conference earlier this week where I had a fascinating discussion with the CEO of a medium-sized cosmetics brand company. I told him about my background in Communications and was surprised to hear that he too started his career in a somewhat similar role. “So how has the meaning of the word changed for you now?”, I asked him. “A lot”, he said, “what I value most in communication today is brevity. Today – whether it’s an email, a call, or a meeting – I insist that the writer/presenter tell me in the first sentence what he/she would have told me in the last sentence. That simple rule helps remind everyone what is the most important point of the conversation!”. Brilliant; reminded me of Donald Coduto’s famous MPT rule, “The most important thing (MPT) is to keep the most important thing the most important thing” … Would you agree?
must read for everyone:
Inspiration Bar by Zulfia 