Harvey Mackay: We Can Learn Much From Animals

Business education comes from many sources. I especially like stories with animals - perhaps because they keep the politics out of the way and focus on the practical.

Here are some of my favorite stories and what we can learn from them:

No Bull According to legend, a tiger ate a bull. The tiger roared in delight at the feast he had made. A big hunter heard the scream, saw the tiger and shot it dead.

Moral: If the people are full, if they are full, if they are full, if they are full, if they are full, see what they want.

You can depend on her. He was a farmer who plowed with oxen and mules. One day the bull said to the mule, let's play with the disease today.

But the mule said, "No, we have to work."

The bulls are still playing with the disease. The farmer tried to comfort him by bringing fresh hay and grain.

How is the ox when the mule treads the plough? "There's not much for us to do," said the mule. But we've come a long way.

The bull: What does the farmer say about me?

The mule replied, "No problem."

The next day the ox fell ill. The donkey asked how the day was and what the farmer was up to.

"Not for me," replied the mule, "but he has been talking to the butcher for a long time."

Moral: If you're fired, prepare to be fired.

Practice is the key to success. Bringing a giraffe into the world is a big challenge. At first, the child falls 6 feet or more, usually on his back. The mother bowed her head, gave one look, and then taught the newborn her first lesson. He placed the new born baby on it and kicked the baby. This process is repeated until the baby stands on its wobbly legs for the first time.

In the wild, young giraffes must move quickly to stay safe with the herd. Lions, hyenas, cheetahs and wildebeests like to eat young giraffes.

The moral: the future belongs to those willing to face it.

Competition makes you better. In Africa, a deer wakes up every morning knowing that it must outrun a swift lion or be eaten. Every morning the lion wakes up and has to outrun the slowest deer or die of starvation. Whether you're a deer or a lion, you'd better start running every morning when you wake up.

Moral: If you can't win, let the person in front of you break the record.

Everyone is important. This story is not about animals but it makes a good point. The professor posed a question. Finally, the question is simple: "What is the first name of the person who cleans the school?" The students saw the porter, but how did they know the name of the porter?

Students should leave the last question blank. Asks the student if the question is included in the exam section.

"Sure," said the professor. "You meet a lot of people in your career. They're all important, they deserve care and attention, even if it's just to smile and say hello.

Moral: Take time to visit people who care about you.

Harvey McKay is a Minneapolis businessman. Call him at 612-378-6202 or email him at harvey@mackay.com.