The Big Fat Hen...!

Regrettably, the meaning of Business Development in today’s consumerism-freak market is constrained to Marketing and Sales figures. Whereas it should have been the core of organization development by instilling the culture that would not only behold the enterprise it resides in but also will pave the way for its inclusive and sustainable development. However piteous the fact that it is exactly opposite in the present scenario for almost, with might be a few esteemed exceptions, all the businesses.

The first and foremost element that needs the ‘correction’ to right this seemingly easy-to-tackle in the business-as-usual way but potentially posing the threat to the entire ecosystem, is to develop a broader vision amongst the business leaders. The business model and the cradle-to-grave product cycle needs to be redesigned, redeveloped and reformed in such a way that it changes the sequence of objectives from Profit, People, and Planet to Planet – People – Profit. And the fundamental lesson that needs to be taught to the Profit-hungry industry is to think conscientiously on a daily basis and not on Quarter, Half-year or Year-to-Year basis. There couldn’t be a simpler lesson to understand this than the Golden Hen.

"A cottager and his wife had a Hen that laid a golden egg every day. They supposed that the Hen must contain a great lump of gold in its inside, and in order to get the gold they killed the Hen. Having done so, they found to their surprise that the Hen differed in no respect from their other hens. The foolish pair, thus hoping to become rich all at once, deprived themselves of the gain of which they were assured day by day."

Now some might conveniently think that it would be wise to increase or double the productivity to reap more profits instead of doing it all at once. If those smarter ones assume that they could get away with the sustainability stuff if they just made a double effort by doubling everything. Here’s another lesson from another Hen, that got obese of overfeeding, will teach the second lesson on these lines.

“A good Woman had a Hen that laid her every day an Egg. Now she fancied to herself, that upon a larger allowance of Corn, this Hen might be brought in time to lay twice a day. She tried the Experiment; but the Hen grew fat upon it, and quite gave over laying. He that has a great deal already, and would have more, will never think that he has enough till he has all; and that’s impossible: wherefore we should set Bounds to our Desires, and content our selves when we are well, for fear of losing what we had.”

In the first story above, the Hen is the Metaphor of the Ecosystem we the humans (just another species for Nature amongst the 8.7 Million it germinates, sustains and destroys) live in and the other Hen is the analogy of the production facility that could outgrow to the extent of being unresponsive and lethargic.

With a closer and wiser look, one can find the Hen(s) representing the land or EARTH and the Women representing the farmer. What voracious Industries are doing to the ecology is the same thing greedy farmer could be doing to the fertile land that is deteriorating to be saline with a ferocious speed. This imminent danger could be understood and taught with the lesson by Lgnacy Krasicki's fable of "The Farmer”

“A farmer, bent on doubling the profits from his land,

Proceeded to set his soil a two-harvest demand.

Too intent thus on profit, harm himself he must needs;

Instead of corn, he now reaps corn-cockle and weeds…”

To keep a check on these imminent catastrophic conditions, all we need is a different kind of Learning and Development that will train the minds to be aware, think holistically and act benevolently. How do we do that, we will discuss in the subsequent posts. Till then… Have a Meaningful Life and Purposeful Living!