Mind Spark #8 – The Man Who Moved Mountains: A Leadership Lesson in Vision and Grit
- Shujian Zhang
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Updated: May 25
Inspired by the Chinese fable “The Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains” (愚公移山)
There’s a classic Chinese fable that nearly every Chinese child grows up hearing. It tells the story of an old man who lived in a village blocked by two massive mountains. Tired of walking around them daily, he made a bold decision: to move the mountains, one shovel at a time.
When neighbors mocked him, he calmly replied:
“When I die, my sons will continue. Then their sons, and their sons after them. The mountains will not grow any taller. But each day, we move a little"
The old man and his family persisted. Day after day, they dug. Eventually, the neighbors saw their determination and joined in. Moved by their unwavering dedication, even the gods helped, and the mountains were eventually removed.
From a leadership perspective, this tale holds timeless wisdom.
In today’s fast-moving world, chasing quick wins or choosing the path of least resistance is tempting. Bold ideas and long-term goals are often dismissed as naive or impractical. But the so-called “foolish” old man wasn’t foolish at all. He had a long-term vision, perseverance, unwavering commitment, and influence to inspire the next generations, neighbors, and divine forces to join them.
The most meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight and often starts with one determined step. It gains momentum through consistent action and inspires others through belief and example.
As leaders, we may not move mountains in a day, but we can achieve what once seemed impossible with clarity of purpose, shared effort, and grit.
One shovel at a time, as a team.
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