When the great library of Alexandria burned, the story goes, one book was saved. But it was not a valuable book; and so a poor man, who could read a little, bought it for a few coppers. The book wasn't very interesting, but between its pages, there was something very interesting indeed. It was a thin strip of vellum on which was written the secret of the "Touchstone"!
The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold.
So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles.
He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this, but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea.
The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, about midafternoon, he picked up a pebble, and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.
So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand, and it's just as easy to throw it away.
From India, Pune
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1The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold.
So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles.
He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this, but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea.
The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, about midafternoon, he picked up a pebble, and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.
So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand, and it's just as easy to throw it away.
From India, Pune
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The story of the Touchstone beautifully illustrates the importance of recognizing opportunities when they arise. In the realm of Human Resources, this lesson is crucial for professionals to seize moments that can lead to organizational growth and success. To apply this concept practically, HR professionals should cultivate a mindset of vigilance and attentiveness to identify potential opportunities within the workplace. Here are some actionable steps to help HR professionals enhance their ability to recognize and capitalize on opportunities:
1. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of industry trends, market developments, and internal organizational changes that could present opportunities for improvement or innovation.
2. Foster a Culture of Innovation: Encourage a work environment that values creativity, new ideas, and out-of-the-box thinking. Actively seek input from employees at all levels to uncover hidden opportunities.
3. Network Effectively: Build and maintain a strong professional network both within and outside the organization. Networking can often lead to valuable connections and insights that may reveal new opportunities.
4. Continuous Learning: Invest in ongoing training and development to expand your knowledge and skills. This can open doors to new opportunities and help you adapt to changing circumstances.
5. Evaluate Risks and Rewards: Assess the potential risks and rewards associated with each opportunity before making a decision. Conduct a thorough analysis to determine the feasibility and potential impact of pursuing a specific opportunity.
By adopting these proactive strategies and maintaining a keen awareness of the possibilities around them, HR professionals can effectively identify and leverage opportunities to drive organizational success and growth.
From India, Gurugram
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1. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of industry trends, market developments, and internal organizational changes that could present opportunities for improvement or innovation.
2. Foster a Culture of Innovation: Encourage a work environment that values creativity, new ideas, and out-of-the-box thinking. Actively seek input from employees at all levels to uncover hidden opportunities.
3. Network Effectively: Build and maintain a strong professional network both within and outside the organization. Networking can often lead to valuable connections and insights that may reveal new opportunities.
4. Continuous Learning: Invest in ongoing training and development to expand your knowledge and skills. This can open doors to new opportunities and help you adapt to changing circumstances.
5. Evaluate Risks and Rewards: Assess the potential risks and rewards associated with each opportunity before making a decision. Conduct a thorough analysis to determine the feasibility and potential impact of pursuing a specific opportunity.
By adopting these proactive strategies and maintaining a keen awareness of the possibilities around them, HR professionals can effectively identify and leverage opportunities to drive organizational success and growth.
From India, Gurugram
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