In a mountain temple, there was a donkey that toiled day after day in the mill, grinding grain. Over time, the donkey grew weary of this monotonous existence. Every day, it pondered: how wonderful it would be to go out and see the world beyond, without having to turn the millstone!

Soon, the opportunity finally arrived: a monk was descending the mountain on a donkey to carry goods, and he was overjoyed.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, the monk loaded the belongings onto the donkey’s back and then returned to the monastery. Unexpectedly, as passersby caught sight of the donkey on the road, they all knelt reverently on either side, paying it devout homage.

At first, the donkey was utterly baffled—why on earth would people bow and kneel before it? It hurriedly tried to dodge them. But this kept happening all along the way, and soon the donkey began to feel rather proud: so it turned out that people really did worship it! The next time it saw someone passing by, it would stride right into the middle of the road, head held high, and accept the people’s prostrations with complete composure.

Back at the monastery, the donkey fancied itself to be of noble birth and stubbornly refused to pull the millstone.

The monk, left with no choice, had to let it descend the mountain.

No sooner had the donkey descended the mountain than it spotted, from a distance, a group of people approaching with gongs and drums. Thinking they must have come to welcome it, the donkey strode boldly into the middle of the road. It turned out to be a wedding procession—only to find a donkey blocking their path. The onlookers were furious, and soon sticks and clubs began to fly. ……The donkey fled in panic back to the temple, already on the brink of death. As it breathed its last, it angrily exclaimed to the monk: “So it is that human hearts are truly treacherous! The first time I descended the mountain, people bowed down to me in worship; yet today they have cruelly turned against me and poisoned me!”

The monk sighed: “What a foolish donkey you are! On that day, it was the Buddha statue on your back that people were kneeling to worship!”

The greatest misfortune in life is never truly knowing oneself. Sometimes, without the platform, you’re nothing at all—so it’s crucial to cherish what you have!

There’s a classic anecdote about the Qiao Family Courtyard: Sun Maocai, a down-on-his-luck scholar, sought refuge with the Qiaos and went on to make outstanding contributions to the family business, which inflated his ego to such an extent that he came to believe the entire enterprise was solely the result of his own efforts. Eventually, driven by greed, he was cast out of the Qiao household—whereupon the Qiaos’ rival, the Qian family, delivered a scathing remark: It wasn’t you who built the Qiao family’s business—it was the Qiao family’s business that made you who you are!

Summary: Sometimes, understanding oneself is even more difficult than understanding the world. The key is to cultivate self-reflection, to “look in the mirror,” and to continually come to know oneself through negation, refinement, and improvement.

If you can master these six points, you’ll be the company’s prized asset.

1. Don’t keep jumping ship just because things aren’t going well—every company has its challenges, and every company has its strengths.

2. It’s crucial to follow the right leader—especially one who’s willing to mentor you and gives you the freedom to take initiative. Such a leader is truly worth cherishing.

3. The company’s challenges are precisely the opportunities for you to stand out. Complaining about or blaming the company is like slapping yourself in the face—it reveals your own incompetence and, worse, amounts to giving up those very opportunities!

4. With a grateful heart, I thank the company for providing me with a platform and my colleagues for their cooperation.

5. Generating profit for the company is the core value of your existence; the company is not a charity.

6. When you encounter a problem, first take the time to think it through. Simply reporting the issue is only at a beginner level; truly mastering the skill lies in thinking critically and finding solutions.

Who will ultimately reap the rewards of victory?

First, Someone who can consistently grow alongside the company.

Second, Someone who has always been optimistic about the company’s prospects.

Third, Someone who can find their place through the company’s continuous exploration.

Fourth, A person who continuously learns new things to achieve the company’s new goals.

Fifth, A person who is highly resilient and patient.

Sixth, Individuals who share the company’s vision, work in unison, and stand together through thick and thin.

Seventh, A person who does not dwell on personal gains and losses and always puts the bigger picture first.

Eighth, A person of great ambition, outstanding moral character and talent, and a true devotee!