When Jack climbed off of the beanstalk and stepped into the realm of the Giant who would grind his bones for his bread. He needed an ally. The giant’s cook took to him and helped him. She provided protection and he benefitted from her knowledge, advice, experience, and protection. Treating all people with respect and dignity regardless of status or power seems to be the lesson here. His courage and chutzpah must have been appealing to her as well. Those without titles and position, but who manage the daily work and processes are crucial. They will make all the difference in helping you to achieve your goals.
My step father Butch Butcher (yes that was his actual name) was an executive who worked his way up from the production floor into the executive suite, but he never lost sight of who was most important, the front line production worker and the customer facing employees. He knew that high level managers, including himself, were expendable, they come and go. He would always walk the production floor and interact with the people actually doing the work. He would go out into the field and help his sales staff connect with customers. He advised me to take calls from sales people, because they might actually have the solution to a problem you are wrestling with. Interpersonal relationships are what human life is about. Treating each person as an individual with dignity is an important habit/ethic in my estimation.
Of course, Jack and the Bean stalk is a classic heroes’ tale. However, it is an upgrade from the standard dragon tale. It seems more relevant, modern, and reflective of coping with social hierarchies than the ancient tale of battling dragons. The monster is human instead of reptilian. Instead of dragon’s gold we see that the brutal giant possesses complex and nuanced treasures, e.g., the singing harp and the goose that lays golden eggs. I think the singing harp represents beauty and joy and art and music. Possessing the harp, to me, equates to valuing and incorporating beauty into daily experience, The goose who lays golden eggs equates to a process you own that generates value that you can trade for things you need. As Bob Dylan sang, “You gotta serve somebody.” Again, life seems to be about interpersonal relationship and providing value to those we interact with. Identify a process or system that creates value for other people. This is the essence of the 365 Commitment, a process, a “thing,” that creates value for other living beings.
What is your Goose that can lay golden eggs?
Ben Wagner (69)
Member the 365 Commitment
