COOPERATION

Ø The heaven and the hell: A gentleman, on his final call reached the court of the death God- Yama Dharma Raja. He requested Yama Dharma Raja to show a sample of the heaven and hell. He was first taken to the hell. The food was excellent but the inmates of hell were emaciated. Their hands were tied with three feet long spoons. As a result, though they were trying hard to eat

Yet they were not able to reach their mouths. The man inferred that the hell was a difficult place to live in.

Thereafter he was taken to the heaven. He hardly found any difference between the hell and the heaven. To his utter surprise, he found that the inmates of the heaven were also tied with the same long spoons. But they were all hale, healthy, and rejoicing. In fact, they were feeding one other instead of just trying to feed themselves.

Wherever we collaborate we make the place a heaven. Wherever we fail to collaborate we make the place a hell.

Ø Co-operation/ Stand by each other.

Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in a V-formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone- and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What message do we give when we honk from behind? Encouragement!

Finally- and this is important- when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other goose fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

Ø The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches:

There was a farmer who grew superior quality and award-winning corn.

Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honour and prizes.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learnt something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours'.

"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn.

If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn."

The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbour's corn also improves. So it is in the other dimensions!

Those who choose to be at harmony must help their neighbours and colleagues to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well. The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.

SUCCESS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN ISOLATION. IT IS VERY OFTEN A PARTICIPATIVE AND COLLECTIVE PROCESS.

So share the good practices, ideas, new learning's with your family, team members, neighbours.

(from my book "10 Fundamental Rules of Success", Publishers: PUSTAK MAHAL, New Delhi)

-----------------------------------------------------