HR message from the advantage and unique capability of Rats

How rats are so successful? Despite the continuous effort of man to eliminate rats as they cause huge holocaust to human economy, but still rats are force to reckon with. The reproductive cycle of rats is very short, it means, they can deliver pups once in every 14 - 24 days. Further, rats also attain reproductive maturity in 2-3 months from the day they are born.

These advantages also bring some weakness in this group of animals. Rats have very short life and are also the most preferred prey of many animals and birds and that may be the reason why they have very short gestation period. Rats have learned to live in diverse environmental conditions. This ability of rats also shows only its limitation and helplessness and not its strength. Then what else can be its real strength?

The strength of rats is its teeth. The teeth of rats grow continuously. Further, the teeth of rats are stronger than iron and steel. Even the wall of a gas cylinder rats can easily gnaw. If a pinhole is available, rats can easily gnaw the hole and easily enters inside.

Nothing can prevent rats from entering to any area it wishes. Practically, every materials rat can easily gnaw and make them porous. Gathering food from any container is not difficult for rats. The success of rats lies not in its short reproductive cycle and its ability to live in diverse habitat. But its strength lies in its teeth that can easily overpower the steel or concrete wall.

If the corporate people want to know the reason for the success of some successful men, they should understand them in the true sense. Many advantages they may have. Remember those ‘advantages’ may although supports their success but they are not the primary reason for the success. Advantages are always born out of some inherent weakness or limitations. Look the life of rats. They are preyed by snakes, eagle, owl and other birds, cat, fox etc. Since they have wide variety of danger, they are given short gestation period and early reproductive maturity by nature so they can produce more number of rats in short time to prevent their extinction due to predation.

Unless the real strength of the successful people is not decoded properly, one might simply count only their advantages and try to have them as well instead of knowing their strength. To be successful, unique strength is inevitable however unique the advantages also one might have. Advantages will only help one to overcome the limitations and although such advantages may not help one to be successful. Unique strength alone will help one to be successful.

The message of rats to the corporate is clear. Never get lost in taking census on the advantages of the successful people, but understand their real strength and capabilities. Also learn that to be continuously successful, only the strength and capability will help and not just the advantage.

Dr S Ranganathan