Today is the occasion of Dusshera. Not the anniversary of beating Sri Lanka dry in the World Cup final, but that of the annihilation of one of the worst tyrants this world had seen. One who could make the dictators and terrorists of the modern world look like C grade spoofs. Seriously, who else could make a city entirely of Gold and sustain it from pollution and cheap thefts? Or maybe Sri Lankans are not the types who even steal the waste paper baskets installed by their municipality.
Why is this occasion celebrated with such pomp and burning of a helpless effigy? I'll leave that for you to ponder. Meanwhile here are the 3 reasons my not misleading headline prompted -
1) Teamwork can beat paper analysis - If you ever look at your team at work and think "huff.. all I got is a bunch of monkeys to work with. Boss will eat us for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the next review", think again. Ravana thought that of his opposition too. The only positive to come out for him was his opposition were not cannibals and instead accorded him a decent funeral. Ram's biggest strength and credit as a leader was that he directed an army to believe in themselves. On paper it would seem unlikely they could defeat the monsters who destroyed even the heavenly planets. History tells us otherwise.
2) Help can look like your enemy - The prejudice of Rama's strategy team can be forgiven for dismissing the help of Vibhishana, brother of Ravana. No, Vibhishana was not the Fair & Handsome model of the Rakshasha dynasty as many movies/serials/ cartoons would have you believe. One could perhaps credit Rama's royal genes for his tactful selection of allies. But the prime factor behind Ram's decision was that he was ready to accept anyone as a friend. He was even ready to accept Ravana, should he have chosen to surrender. This is the reason Rama was the beloved of those times and even to a few now. Some would wish those who claim to be his followers retain that same grace. But rarity of that nature is why Rama still is revered so much.
3) The solution can be born from the heart of the problem -
This lesson I relate to pretty well. Many times I find a quick fix solution to certain issues. But like Ravana's magically persistent heads, they are up again in no time, giving a huge problem to the solitary non-magical head of your own. "Shoot to his heart my Lord" said Vibhishana and Rama used his best arrow (no, it was not laden with firecrackers) to pierce Ravana's heart way before he could say "Et tu Vibhishana". Or maybe one his heads did?
So quick fixes may assure you a series of small victories. But by getting to the root of issues even a complex monster can be made a helpless kitten.
So who inspires you? Rama, the monkeys or demon whose death anniversary is still celebrated today?
If you are keen to learn more management/inspirational lessons from Ramayana and Mahabharata in small doses every other day follow this blog -
http://lessonsfrommahabharat.blogspot.in/2014/09/living-dying-and-making-leader.html?m=1
