Friday, June 22, 2012

39: The Source of Power


The wise project manager nurtures the team, cooperates with them and is their servant. Potency comes from knowing what is happening, freedom comes from obedience to the natural order. This way the team is happy and the project is in harmony with nature.

The Tao
Lao Tsu tells us:

These things from ancient times arise from one:
The sky is whole and clear.
The earth is whole and firm.
The spirit is whole and strong.
The valley is whole and full.
The ten thousand things are whole and alive.
Kings and lords are whole and the country is upright.
All these are in virtue of wholeness.

The clarity of the sky prevents its falling.
The firmness of the earth prevents its splitting.
The strength of the spirit prevents its being used up.
The fullness of the valley prevents its running dry.
The growth of the ten thousand things prevents their dying out.
The leadership of the kings and lords prevents the downfall of the country.

Therefore the humble is the root of the noble.
The low is the foundation of the high.
Princes and lords consider themselves orphaned, widowed and worthless,
Do they not depend on being humble?

Too much success is not an advantage.
Do not tinkle like jade,
Or clatter like stone chimes.

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