Aesop Cover

Team Sticks Together – No. 12. The Bundle of Sticks – The Essential Aesop™ – Back to Basics Abridgment Series

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci. Adopted by Steve Jobs.

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A Father had three Daughters who were always quarreling. If not this, then that. No words the Father said did any good. So, he decided to show them.

The Father called his Daughters together and gave each a stick. He asked each Daughter, one by one, to break the stick, which each Daughter did very easily.

And then, the Father handed a bundle of sticks, bound together, to each of his Daughters. In turn, he told each Daughter to try to break the bundle of sticks. But, none could do so.

My Daughters,” said the Father, “see the wisdom of unity. Each of you is like a stick. Alone and divided, you can be easily broken, but, it will be impossible for your enemies to break you, if you stand united.

Moral of the Story: There is strength in unity. Divide and conquer. United we stand, divided we fall.

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Introduction – The Essential Aesop – Epilogue

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Why We Loved It: This fable reminds us to deny our self-interest for our team. Natural tendency is comfort of self, and satisfaction of human natural psychology, like pride and envy. The best basketball player must pass the ball for the good of the team. By definition, a team is a bond to a goal, which is greater than any individual. “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’” and, in the best teams, there is only necessary administrative hierarchy, but not substantive. The best teams recognize no greater importance of the driver to the tire.

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© 2013 Arnold Zegarelli and Gregg Zegarelli, Esq. Gregg can be contacted through LinkedIn. Arnold Zegarelli can be contacted through Facebook.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/team-sticks-together-12-bundle-essential-aesop-back-zegarelli-esq-

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