When I was interning in the bank, a supervisor of mine told me this story. He feels that everyone should know the part he/she is playing in the system, so that no matter how small or insignificant the job is, he/she knows it is part of a higher purpose. He was someone who sees the importance in developing his team and hence he told me this story about motivation and purpose:
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1 day a guy was walking down the streets and he saw a worker hitting stones on the road. He is trying to break the big boulder into smaller pieces. It was a very hot day; the type of day that you would want to spend in the water or be in the shade and not come out. The poor worker was perspiring madly and grumbling away at the stones. You can just imagine him complaining away at his job.
This guy was curious at what he was doing and he asked him: "What are you doing sir?"
"Breaking down the boulder into smaller stones. Thats all I do." Came the worker's reply.
And so the guy moved on down the street, and he saw a magnificant statue halfway completed. Another worker was there breaking down the boulder as well. Despite the hot sun, he was not complaining and he moved his hands with speed.
The guy got curious again and he asked the second worker what he was doing.
"I am breaking the stones to build this magnificant statue" Came the second worker's reply.
And finally the guy reached the end of the street. Again he saw a third worker chipping away at the huge boulder. Despite all the discomfort working under the hot sun he has a smile on his face and he seemed like he is enjoying every bit of the chipping.
The guy asked him what he was doing.
He replied: "I am building the largest catheral ever"
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In fact all 3 workers are at the same job towards a common objective, but yet they have different attitudes due to their vision - how far and how much do they see themselves contributing; between chipping rocks, constructing a statue and building a cathedral.
Know what you are doing, go deep into the processes so you know the reason why you are doing something. With that you will have a vision, a purpose and an objective.
