Mahabharata is not just a popular epic one can learn Kurukshtra lessons from. The sermons from Lord Krishna to Arjun form the basis of Bhagwad Gita which is the holy book for Hindus. However, the epic also consists of many management lessons that entrepreneurs could derive out of it.
5 management lessons one can learn from Mahabharata are:
1. Honesty isn’t always the best policy
This might not be the best moral lesson to derive out of the epic for entrepreneurs but it definitely a very important one. An entrepreneur cannot afford to be truthful and just in every situation. Some situations require him to be cunning and smart. In Mahabharata, even the great king, Yudhishtira, who never lied, had to lie to his teacher during the time of war. If he hadn’t lied, the entire Pandava army would have been slaughtered; so he betrayed his morals for the sake of a bigger win. He did what was required at the moment which is entrepreneurs should do too.
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2. Make strong alliances
The Pandavas were initially a team of only five brothers without an army but they managed to defeat hundred brothers with a kingdom. This was possible only because they made smart alliances which paid off in the time of need. The Pandavas were helped by Lord Krishna and other people who were more cunning and experienced in the art of war and could lead them to success. Similar, to succeed, an entrepreneur needs to make strong alliances with people who are smart or/and successful.
3. Build a dedicated team
The Kauravas were far more than the Pandavas in number but they lost because the Pandavas were more close-knit and focused towards a common goal. The values of unity weren’t spread amongst the Kauravas which is why their determination wasn’t as strong as the Pandavas. In the same way, an entrepreneur should aspire to build a dedicated team of employees who work together towards achieving a common goal. If there are disputes or conflicts of interest between employees, it can hamper the whole company.
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4. Every single member is important
In the beginning of the war, Pandavas and Kauravas were given a choice between Krishna and Krishna’s army. The Kauravas without thinking chose his army because they saw quantity there; however, what they failed to see was the potential and qualities of Krishna as an individual which were what eventually led to the victory of the Pandavas. Similarly, in real life, an entrepreneur should choose the qualities of an individual over hiring more people because a single employee might turn out to be a better strategist than thousand others.
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5. Focus on your goals
It is very important for a venture to have a common goal and focus on it because without uninterrupted focus and hard work, all goals are impossible to achieve. This is a crucial lesson which Mahabharata teaches us.
Arjun could hit the bird’s eye and become the greatest archer only because he focused hard and trained well. Also, the Pandavas common goal was to win their kingdom back which is what they solely concentrated on and didn’t stop until they accomplished their goal.
If you haven’t read the epic yet, go ahead and read it because it will teach you how to strategize and more importantly how life really is!
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