The Master asked the student, “A deer stops by the river and proclaims to the valley, ‘Look at my antlers, see how I leap, I am surely a deer!’ A monkey chatters from the branches, ‘Watch my tail, hear my voice, I am the king of the trees!’

But when the lion walks to the water to drink, he does not roar his name, nor does he display his mane to the forest.

Tell me: What is the sound of the lion proving he is a lion?”

The student replied, “It is the silence of his walk, and the way the other animals clear the path.”

The Master smiled and said, “No. The lion does not even know the word ‘lion.’ He simply drinks.”

FINAL THOUGHT

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” — Proverbs 27:2

Entrepreneurs: A great company does not need to scream its value proposition or rely on hype. The product simply solves the problem, and the market responds.

Leaders: Authority that must constantly remind people of its title is weak. True authority is found in presence, decisive action, and composure under pressure.

In both leadership and personal character, the need to convince others is a sign of inner doubt. True nature does not seek validation.

— Early Boykins III