In a mountain temple there lived a donkey that toiled day after day in the mill, grinding grain. Over time, it grew weary of this monotonous existence. Each day it dreamed: how wonderful it would be to venture out into the world, free from the drudgery of pulling the millstone! Soon, the chance arrived: a monk led the donkey down the mountain to carry goods, and the animal was thrilled. At the foot of the mountain, the monk loaded the pack onto the donkey and returned to the temple. To his surprise, as they passed through the village, every traveler who caught sight of the donkey fell to their knees in devout reverence, paying homage. At first, the donkey was baffled—why on earth were people bowing and prostrating themselves before it? It hurriedly tried to evade them. But the same thing happened all along the way, and soon the donkey began to swell with pride: so this is how people worship me! Whenever another passerby appeared, the donkey would stride boldly into the middle of the road, confidently accepting the crowd’s obeisance. Back at the temple, the donkey fancied itself of noble station and refused point-blank to pull the millstone again. The monk, left with no choice, had to let it go once more. No sooner had the donkey descended than it spotted a procession approaching, drums and gongs resounding. “Surely they’ve come to welcome me!” it thought, and stood proudly in the middle of the road. But it turned out to be a wedding party—and the donkey had blocked their path. Enraged, the villagers pelted it with sticks and clubs. The donkey fled back to the temple, half-dead; on its deathbed, it vented its fury: “So cruel are human hearts! The first time I went down the mountain, people bowed to me—but today they’ve turned on me with such viciousness!” The monk sighed and said, “What a foolish donkey you are! That day, it wasn’t you they were worshipping—it was the Buddha statue you were carrying on your back.” The greatest misfortune in life is never truly knowing oneself. Sometimes, once you step off the platform, you’re nothing at all. That’s why cherishing what you have is so important! There’s a classic anecdote from the Qiao Family Courtyard: Sun Maocai, a penniless scholar, sought refuge with the Qiao family and made outstanding contributions to the business. He became conceited, believing that all the Qiao family’s success was due to his own efforts. Eventually, driven by selfish ambition, he was cast out. Then the Qiao family’s rival, the Qian clan, delivered a telling remark: “It wasn’t you who made the Qiao business thrive—it was the Qiao business that made you great!” In summary: sometimes knowing yourself is even harder than knowing the world. Learn to reflect, learn to look in the mirror, and keep refining and improving yourself through constant self-negation, self-perfection, and self-improvement. If you can do these six things, you’ll be the company’s treasure: 1. Don’t constantly jump ship whenever things don’t go your way. Every company has its problems, and every company has its strengths. 2. Choosing the right leader is crucial. Cherish those leaders who are willing to teach you and give you room to grow. 3. Your company’s challenges are opportunities for you to stand out. Complaining about or blaming the company is like slapping yourself in the face—admitting your own incompetence and, worse still, throwing away opportunities. 4. Cultivate gratitude: be thankful for the platform the company provides and for the cooperation of your colleagues. 5. Creating profit for the company is the core reason for your existence; the company is not a charity. 6. When faced with a problem, think first. Simply reporting the problem shows only basic competence; thinking critically and solving the problem demonstrates higher-level skill. Who ultimately reaps the rewards of success? First: those who consistently grow alongside the company. Second: those who remain optimistic about the company’s future. Third: those who, through continuous exploration within the company, manage to find their place. Fourth: those who keep learning new skills to support the company’s evolving goals. Fifth: those with strong stress tolerance and patience. Sixth: those who share the company’s vision, work together in harmony, and endure both joy and hardship side by side. Seventh: those who put the bigger picture above personal gain. Eighth: those with lofty ambitions, outstanding character and talent, and a spirit of dedication!