A short story:
A guy in a distant land wanted to go to a jungle and stay there for some time. He wanted to explore something new, discover his abilities, take a break from his routine life and meet new creatures. After much reluctance from his parents, he was allowed to go to the jungle. In the jungle he became friends with many animals. A few months later when he finally departed for his home, the animals wept for him.
His parents were shocked to see him – they had expected him to be “Junglee” just like the animals. In fact, he looked just the same as before. His mother asked him, “You look just the same. I don’t feel that you’ve learnt anything new. You’ve wasted your precious time.”
“You may think I am the same, but I am not”, he replied. “I haven’t spent these few months of my life in the jungle, I have actually lived a few months of my life there,” he further added. Taking a pause, he continued:
“
I’ve learnt from the dog to be loyal.
I’ve learnt from the rhinoceros that no matter how ugly you are, there is some quality in you.
I’ve learnt from lion that every group has a head – an influencer.
I’ve learnt from owl that you may sleep during the day and still work/enjoy at night.
I’ve learnt from monkey that there would be people to imitate you. If they do, don’t go nuts.
I’ve learnt from elephant that no matter how giant you are, even the tiniest of thing can disturb you.
I’ve learnt from zebra that sometimes you’re just plain black and white. You don’t know what to do.
”
“While you may think I am the same, I am not. You may think I am the same, I am not.”
P.S.: Here “jungle” refers to life changing experience and “animals” refer to social animals a.k.a. friends.
If you have already cleared your Post Graduation or Graduation, you would be able to relate the story to your experience in the college. If you’re still appearing for some competitive exams and seeking a seat in a college, you will experience this. Even if you’re doing your own business or job, you will still be able to relate it. If not, see here:
The dog teaches us to be loyal – being loyal to our friends, our studies, our work, our jobs.
The rhinoceros teaches us that no matter how ugly you are, there is some quality in you – we all have one ugly friend but damn he has got that one quality which makes us forget that he is ugly.
The lion teaches us that every group has a head – an influencer – one of your friends or employees is always able to influence the entire group to do something crazy, something weird, something new.
The owl teaches us that you may sleep during the day and still work/enjoy at night – we may need to work for 12 hours a day, how does it matter if it’s the first-half or second-half?
The monkey teaches us that there would be people to imitate you. If they do, don’t go nuts – your friends may copy your dressing sense or your employees may copy your working style, why should you be worried? This shows that they like something in you.
The elephant teaches us that no matter how giant you are, even the tiniest of thing can disturb you – no matter how good you are at your work, you need to do something new always else someone will outrank you.
The zebra teaches us that sometimes you’re just plain black and white. You don’t know what to do – sometimes you’re just stuck between mind and heart and don’t know what to do. Go ask your friends, mentor or relatives, find out pros and cons of the two things and act accordingly.
The story is for all entrepreneurs, college students, aspirants – go learn from your experiences. CATapp is not only building products, we are building an experience. Live it here.