No effort, time and investment, great success – HR message from leatherback turtle

Success doesn’t happen so easily, casually and without hardship, drudgery ad effort. Nor success can ever be the byproduct of luck, prayers, worship or blessings of a guru. Success also doesn’t happen if one regularly engaged in deep meditation or by sheer accident. All the above may go true to those who have not defined or understood the success but are effort-centric. As a result of the effort, they may attain some result in their life. Such people may say success can be achieved so easily.

The leatherback sea turtle from nature has a different story to share to the corporate world as how one can become successful. They are of the view that only through smartness, knowing the likely hardship in advance & having adequate planning conjoined with relentless effort can bring long lasting success.

It is estimated that the female leatherback turtle lay about 200 eggs during its breeding season. Approximately only 2 out of the 200 eggs would survive to the final destination i.e., hatches out, reach the sea safely, attain adulthood by escaping from predation, breeds and lay eggs. Rest of the 198 dies when they are egg or get preyed by the predator while navigating the sea or die due to starvation. The winner has become a winner only because they have surpassed all odds and adversities through their effort. They struggled hard and become successful.

The most striking philosophy the corporate leaders have to learn from the above is not about struggle or struggle alone breeds success. After becoming successful, one must remember the chance and percentage of success versus their every effort, plan and forecast. Only if they remember this tenet, they can plan their strategy effectively. Most corporate often look for quick success with least effort and investment. Less effort, less investment and less time, but the success should be amazing, exhilarating and maximum profiting is the philosophy most of the corporate leaders want to follow.

Irrespective of all odds and success rate of 2 of 200, the leatherback sea turtle are the biggest turtle in the sea. The turtle may grow to 700 kg by weight and 3-5 feet in length. The life span of the turtle is about 50 years; however the accurate data on their life span is not available.

The incessant struggle, huge investment & effort, the rate of success certainly has its dividend. The winner grows to an extent to receive the respect and recognition of the world as the biggest turtle in the world.

If the corporate leaders ever understand the fact that great effort and struggle only will bring great success and the success that last long, they will never opt for quick success (without effort, time and investment). Quick success always comes with a cut in quality and corners. Only careful examination of the message of nature and the life & struggle of leatherback sea turtle, the corporate can learn the right leadership message.

Dr S Ranganathan