Story from the Panchatantra
Some childhood fables have a deeper meaning. Sometimes, more than one meanings and all making sense. You tend to find their true flavours once you revisit them as a grown-up.
When I was young, I was gifted the book of Panchatantra. Although there were several different stories, having different endings and morals, this story has somehow repeatedly knocked the doors of my brain. This is especially when I was reciting story to my two year old to make her sleep.
This is how the story goes (or how I remember it)
Narayan came to the city with little money and lots of dreams and aspirations to get rich. He tried several things but nothing worked. Dejected and tired, he sat at the corner of the street.
With very little money in his pocket, he was contemplating whether to eat his next meal, bet the money in some lottery or forget about his dreams and return to his village. Unknowingly, he was staring at the side of a gutter that passersby ignored as it was stinking because of a dead mouse.
Suddenly, a man came to the street yelling, “My cat! Somebody please find my cat! It is the only thing I have as family.”
Narayan went to the man and asked him, “If I find your cat will you give me some money? I’m hungry and have nothing to eat.”
The man replied, “I will not only feed you, I will also give you some money.”
Hearing this, two other men popped up asking for the same reward in return of finding his cat.
The man agreed, and the three men started looking for his cat. They found a cat on the top of a tree. While one man tried to call the cat from below and failed to grab its attention, the other man tried to climb on the tree to rescue the cat. The cat freaked out and jumped to another tree.
Narayan suddenly remembered of the dead mouse, and quickly went to get it. He showed the mouse to the cat and the cat quickly jumped on his hands to get the mouse.
Finally, Narayan grabbed the cat and return to his rightful owner. The owner was really happy and looking at Narayan‘s brilliance, and dedication, not just give him the food and money as he promised, but also offered him work.
Several meanings come out of the story in several contexts.
In terms of investment, it talks about how you should actually focus on the business and its earnings and not follow the price.
In terms of marketing, he talks about having a preposition such that your customers chase you than you chase them.
In terms of operations, it talks about knowing the resources you have at your disposal and using them to the best of your capabilities to get the desire results in the quickest way.
In terms of strategy, it talks about taking a step back in a way that you look at the bigger picture and how to your competitors.
And so, I leave the moral of the story to you. Feel free to choose your context and make a sense out of the story in the way that excites you the most.