Articles

Articles

The Explorer!

It was interesting to watch many, so called experts/authors & teachers perform – on the subject of entrepreneurship – with good narration of – what, when & how of the art of running a successful business.

The show was later captivated by a guest speaker, who narrated his experience of failing in 5 attempts and making 1 big successful business… While checking with participants of this EDP workshop, it became very clear that they had got the food they came for…but not the taste of it!

The explorer returned to his people, who were eager to know about the Amazon. But how could he ever put into words the feelings that flooded his heart when he saw exotic flowers and heard the night-sounds of the forests; when he sensed the danger of wild beasts or paddled his canoe over treacherous rapids?

He said, “Go and find out for yourselves.” To guide them he drew a map of the river. They pounced upon the map. They framed it in their Town Hall. They made copies of it for themselves. And all who had a copy considered themselves experts on the river, for did they not know its every turn and bend, how broad it was, how deep, where the rapids were and where the falls?       (~Anthony De Mello)

There is no shortcut to experience! Instead, there is a great danger drawing maps for arm-chair explorers!

Go… be a real one!

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Bring out that tiger!

A man walking through the forest saw a fox that had lost its legs and wondered how it lived! Then he saw a tiger come with game in its mouth. The tiger had his fill and left the rest for the fox.

The next day too God sent the tiger to feed the fox. The man began to wonder at God’s greatness and thought, “I too shall lie in a corner trusting the Lord to give me all I need.”

He did this for a month, and was almost at death’s door when he heard a Voice that said, “O you, who are on the path of error, open your eyes to the Truth! Imitate the tiger not the fox!”

For some of us, it might be the right time to take an oath to bring out that tiger within us, at least – this new year 2011!

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Construction of a Social Enterprise!

Construction is a Process – a systematic course of actions towards achieving the result! Social Enterprises should stand much beyond the founder, for a long lasting impact. Unlike any other commercial enterprise built purely for making money or for self occupation, social enterprises have a larger obligation – to the society, to the social cause for which they are built!

Construction of a Social Enterprise requires greater care and a firm footing – glued on a set of non-negotiable principles! One analogy of a social enterprise comes from that of a personal temple! If you are building a social enterprise consider all aspects of building your own personal temple!

Let’s examine how some of the great temples were built. Especially the ones standing tall and giving shelter for over several centuries, across the world!

Konark_Sub_Temple_Front_view[1]

People worked slowly and steadily. Every part of a marble/stone temple was made by hand, none of it by a machine. The columns were carved the same patience and skill as the sculpture.

No hurry, not even hasty. It is the quality of the end product that is most important, not the speed at which it is made. Main structures took several years to complete, and its sculptures some more, yet they have endured for almost several centuries.

Each column, moreover was made of separate drums, one stacked on top of the other. Constructing a pillar then, like constructing a pillar of belief, is an incremental process – we should begin at the bottom and ascend to the top in steady, measured steps, making certain that each successive component is carefully and deliberately fitted to the one below!

Sikh_pilgrim_at_the_Golden_Temple_%28Harmandir_Sahib%29_in_Amritsar%2C_India[1]

Naturally, there must be a master plan to which the parts conform. But life is not perfect, and execution of every plan may involve delay. Hence, commitment is essential, especially for a project that is long. But as stone rises on stone, flagging spirits will rise too as the ideal takes visible form!

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No temple was ever built by a single individual. They were built by a team! In building our personal temple, we will need to borrow the love, strength, and understanding from at least one other human being.

If we are blessed, our efforts will be shared. And if life does not permit us to finish the work, the work may yet go on in the hands of others who have learned our dream!

If you are dreaming of building a social enterprise, go ahead and construct it as your own personal temple!

Make it truly REMARKABLE!

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