60.1 Energy

 60.1 Energy

 

Question:

What is the ideal possession that one could possess?

 

Energy is the ideal possession that one could possess, and all other

possessions are not real possessions.                                           (Couplet – 591)

உடைமை எனப்படுவது ஊக்கம் அஃதுஇல்லார்

          உடையது உடையரோ மற்று.                                     (குறள் - 591)

Explanation:

Energy is the strength and vitality required for sustained physical and mental activity. It is the energy that enables one to achieve one’s goals. In addition to mentioning energy as a prerequisite quality for a leader (Couplet 382), Valluvar has a chapter (Chapter 60) on energy and its importance for one and all. According to Valluvar, energy is the ideal possession that one could possess, and all other possessions are not real possessions (Couplet 591). In other words, one with energy can obtain and retain his wealth and other things of value under all circumstances. In couplet 594, Valluvar adds that success and wealth will seek their way to the one with the inflexible will and unfailing energy.

 

A practical application of Valluvar’s ideas on energy can be seen in the management philosophy of Jack Welch, the legendary Chief Executive Officer of the General Electric Company (GE). He had devised a system of 4E’s and followed it meticulously to achieve phenomenal success at GE. According to Jeffrey A. Krames, the author of “Jack Welch and 4E’s of Leadership”, it all begins with energy. Leaders must have other strengths, such as intelligence and decision-making ability, but it is energy that converts good ideas into measurable performance. Jack Welch’s 4E system consists of the following four basic principles: 1) leader has energy; 2) leader energizes others; 3) leader has the competitive edge and 4) the leader executes. Jack Welch’s successful application of the system of 4E shows the wisdom of Valluvar in espousing energy as an essential quality for achieving success.

 

 

60.2 Energy

60.2 Energy

Question:

What is important to achieve greatness?

 Answer:

The stalk of water lily grows as the water level rises; so also, the

greatness achieved by a man is determined by his lofty ideals.              (Couplet – 595)

வெள்ளத் தனைய மலர்நீட்டம் மாந்தர்தம்

உள்ளத் தனையது உயர்வு.                                                    (குறள் – 595)

             

Explanation:

Valluvar places great importance on having lofty ideals as the basis for human achievements. The height of the stem of a water lily in a pond continues to increase as the water level rises. Valluvar says, in the same manner, that the greatness achieved by an individual is in proportion to the lofty ideals he has in his mind. Having lofty ideals is the same as having big dreams about achieving success.

              The well-known comedy actor Jim Carrey went to Hollywood in 1987 looking for a career in acting. When he was struggling to find his way through Hollywood, he wrote a check for himself for $10 million. He dated the check “Thanksgiving 1995” and added the notation, “for acting services rendered.” That was his dream. By the time the year 1995 came, he had become successful in his career and had acted in several box-office hit movies. He had become a superstar, and his asking price per picture was $20 million. Jim Carrey’s story is not an isolated example of dreaming for success. Great inventors, artists, leaders, and athletic superstars have all used the technique of “creative visualization,” which is another name for dreaming. For example, Wilbur and Orville Wright must have imagined the possibility of constructing a flying machine before they set out to design and build the Kitty Hawk in 1903. It was his dream when President John F. Kennedy expressed his desire for the Americans to travel to the moon. The famous Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King dreamed of racial equality and wished that someday “justice would roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” in the USA. Successful athletes routinely visualize their success before they attain it. Musicians imagine receiving standing ovations and accolades from their audiences before their actual concerts. Great generals like Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte visualized their success in the wars they waged and motivated their troops to achieve their victories. It is a common practice in many corporations to express their lofty ideals regarding their products and services in their vision statements which help to motivate their employees to do their best. Therefore, it appears that many successful people from all walks of life had dreams or visions of their success. Therefore, the most important thing for achieving greatness is having a big dream.

60.3 Energy

 60.3 Energy

Question:

Is it sufficient to have a big dream to achieve great success?

 

Answer:

Think lofty thoughts always; even if they fail to materialize, it is

still as good as having materialized.                                                                           (Couplet – 596)

உள்ளுவது எல்லாம் உயர்வுள்ளல் மற்றது

தள்ளினுந் தள்ளாமை நீர்த்து.                                                            (குறள் – 596)

                                                                                                                                 

Explanation:

              Dreams alone cannot guarantee success. The probability of success increases if the dreams are accompanied by appropriate goals, hard work, dedication, and persistence. Even then, it is entirely possible that one may not achieve the desired degree of success. The famous boxer Mike Tyson is quoted as saying, “If I shoot for the moon, even if I don’t get the moon, I might get some clouds.” That is very true. If the big dream is accompanied by dedication, specific goals, hard work, and persistence, one may achieve positive results if not complete success.

 

              One of my brothers had a dream of becoming a General of the Indian army. That was his dream right from a very early age. During his school days, he had studied the life history of Napoleon Bonaparte with great interest and admired Napoleon’s military genius. When he was about eighteen years old, he wanted to join the army. He could only join as a soldier. But his dream of becoming a high-ranking officer was always alive. He appeared for competitive examinations held for the selection of officers. Although he scored very high on the written tests, he failed in the interview. This was primarily due to the bias in the Indian army that once someone was a soldier, he was considered virtually unfit to become an officer. But, in his next attempt, he was successful and became an officer. By virtue of his superior performance, he was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, and Brigadier General. He was short-listed for the position of Major General. But in India, positions like Major General and above are political appointments. He did not have the political connection required, so he had to retire as a Brigadier General. Even though his dream did not materialize as anticipated, he accomplished most of what he hoped to achieve and had a great career in the Indian army.

 

              The story of my brother is not unique. There are numerous examples of athletes, military generals, politicians, and corporate leaders achieving most of their dreams, if not in their entirety. The process of dreaming and working towards achieving the dream produces a wealth of benefits to the dreamer. Valluvar has thought about this aspect of the dream, and that is why he says that even if the dream does not come true, it is still good to dream and work towards the dream.

 

              So, lofty ideals and big dreams are indeed the basis of success; therefore, one should certainly dream, and persistent hard work towards achieving that dream will invariably make the dream come true.

 

59.1 gathering Intelligence Information

 59.1 Gathering Intelligence Information

 

Question:

              What is one of the critical duties of a king (leader)?

Answer:

It is the duty of a king to know quickly everything that

happens to everybody in his kingdom at all times.                        (Couplet – 582)

எல்லார்க்கும் எல்லாம் நிகழ்பவை எஞ்ஞான்றும்

வல்லறிதல் வேந்தன் தொழில்.                                               (குறள் – 582)

Explanation:

              Among the many duties of a king, collecting information about what is happening in his country is also essential. To govern effectively, the king (leader) should be aware of what happens in his country. A king may collect intelligence information through a network of spies. Although no spies are available for a business or project leader, it is equally important for a business leader or project leader to gather information regarding the activities in his domain. For example, to assess the progress of a project, the project leader should know the project's current status, including the progress and the lack of progress in various tasks. Once the leader has the necessary information, he can then take the needed corrective action, if any. So, the idea in couplet 582 is applicable to a king as well as leaders in other areas.

59.2 Gathering Intelligence Information

 59.2 Gathering Intelligence Information

Question:

Is gathering intelligence information necessary for a king(leader)?

Answer:

A king who does not know the benefits of gathering intelligence

information through spies is not likely to be successful. (Couplet- 583)

ஒற்றினான் ஒற்றிப் பொருள்தெரியா மன்னவன்

கொற்றங் கொளக்கிடந்தது இல்.   (குறள் – 583)

Explanation:

A ruler of a nation should continuously monitor what is happening in his country. There may be people trying to sabotage him. His enemies may be plotting against him. There could be economic or social problems in the country. To provide stable and effective governance, the ruler should always be aware of what is happening in his country. But the ruler cannot gather all the information about what is happening in his country by himself. Generally, the rulers employ spies to collect intelligence information about what is happening in their country and monitor their enemies' activities. For example, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the USA, Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti (KGB) in Russia, and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in India are agencies that are actively involved in spying for the USA, Russia, and India, respectively.

Just like the leader of a nation, it is also essential for business leaders to gather market intelligence information about customers and competitors. Such information will help them to make informed decisions about product, price, promotion, and placement.