There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day, he came upon a house where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest. He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys saw them, he held onto them even tighter.
He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them that he didn't even notice his hunger at first. A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax either if he was to defend his apples. A proud but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.
The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go? Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree and smelling its fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.
Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as "productive" - carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired and hungry for a better life. Still, letting go seems crazy. Even his worries are sacred apples - they prove he's "doing everything he can." He holds onto them compulsively.
From India, Coimbatore
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746He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them that he didn't even notice his hunger at first. A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax either if he was to defend his apples. A proud but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.
The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go? Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree and smelling its fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.
Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as "productive" - carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired and hungry for a better life. Still, letting go seems crazy. Even his worries are sacred apples - they prove he's "doing everything he can." He holds onto them compulsively.
From India, Coimbatore
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Dear Mr. Sardhar,
This story has a lot of insights. From an HR perspective, I would like to add a few points:
1) HR needs to unlearn (the wooden apples) things when required.
2) Leaving behind the wooden apples may be compared with change management.
3) In today's world, HR needs to be a strategic partner and not just a mere driver of administrative functions. This is possible when you can "see" the future and quickly adapt.
Regards,
Sandip
From Korea, Seoul
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This story has a lot of insights. From an HR perspective, I would like to add a few points:
1) HR needs to unlearn (the wooden apples) things when required.
2) Leaving behind the wooden apples may be compared with change management.
3) In today's world, HR needs to be a strategic partner and not just a mere driver of administrative functions. This is possible when you can "see" the future and quickly adapt.
Regards,
Sandip
From Korea, Seoul
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Nice sharing, but we can't neglect the pain felt while leaving the wooden apple. So it's better to think twice before picking up such things.
And remember, there is always room for improvement, so be prepared to manage change.
From Pakistan, Lahore
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And remember, there is always room for improvement, so be prepared to manage change.
From Pakistan, Lahore
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Vow... that is really a nice story and a nice message conveyed. Like the wooden apple, many of us hold many things in life without realizing the hunger/thirst for knowledge - we should not feel the loss of the wooden apple if anything comes our way and move forward.
Regards
From India, New Delhi
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Regards
From India, New Delhi
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Hi Peer, It was a wonderful story & a valuable message. We do the same thing when we start feeling comfortable in a company despite having better opportunity elsewhere.
From India, New Delhi
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From India, New Delhi
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Dear Mr.Mohammed, It’s nice posting, which can be taken for professional as well as personal growth... Thanks for sharing these kind of messages.. regards, Maria Merlin
From India, Madras
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From India, Madras
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Yes, it is true that we, with our limited understanding, hold on to things that have no value at all. Certain observations I have are as follows:
1. All that glitters is not gold. (Though an old saying, it holds profound truth.)
2. Attitude towards change.
3. The values we attach to things that are attractive and pleasing to the eyes rather than applying our minds to understand the need and purpose of them.
A very good story.
Thank you,
Franklyne
From India, Coimbatore
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1. All that glitters is not gold. (Though an old saying, it holds profound truth.)
2. Attitude towards change.
3. The values we attach to things that are attractive and pleasing to the eyes rather than applying our minds to understand the need and purpose of them.
A very good story.
Thank you,
Franklyne
From India, Coimbatore
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Change Management.ppt