Leadership Lesson from "The Marble Statue"

In the middle of a beautiful city, there was a museum laid with beautiful marble tiles and with a huge marble statue as a part of the display. Many people from all over the world visited the museum every day and admired the beautifully crafted statue. One night, the marble tile (at the bottom) started talking to the marble statue.

Marble Tile: Hey statue, Don’t you think that it is unfair that people from all over the world come here to admire you while ignoring and stepping on me.

Marble Statue: My dear brother Marble Tile, Don’t you remember we actually came out of the same cave.

Marble Tile: Yes! I do, that is why I feel it is even more unfair. Both of us were born from the same cave and yet the world treats us so differently now. This is so unfair!

Marble Statue: Yes you are right my brother. But, do you remember the day when the sculptor tried to work on you but you resisted his tools?

Marble Tiles: Yes, I despised that guy. He pushed me…pulled me…and pressured me. How could he use those nasty tools on me?

Marble Statue: Well, Since you resisted his tools he couldn’t work on you…So he started working on me instead. I knew at once that I would be something different and unique after his efforts. I bore all the painful tools he used on me and so I allowed him to craft me as he wanted!

Marble Tiles: But those tools were so painful. I am relieved he left me alone and moved on.

Marble Statue: My brother, there is a price for everything in life. Since you decided to resist and gave up halfway, you can’t blame the world when they step on you now…!

The marble tile silently listened to his brother's words and started to reflect!!!

LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS:

• Who is the sculptor that is working on you? And How are you responding?
• Are you the Tile or are you the Statue?
• Do not be discouraged by setbacks and failures! There is no shortcut to success.
• True CHANGE is hidden in every “CHALLENGE”
• The harder the knocks you go through in life…the more you learn and put them to use in the future!
• If you don’t sacrifice for what you want…what you want becomes the sacrifice.